writing-paper in it--some leaves of an old account-book which her
mother had given her to write on. All the hope she had was that the
ring had slipped inside that, and that was the reason why she could
not feel it. She longed so to take out that pin and make sure, but
she had to wait for that until she got home at night.

Comfort began to search all over the school-room floor, but all she
found were wads of paper and apple-cores, slate-pencil stumps and
pins. Then she went out in the yard and looked carefully, then she
went down the road to the old Loomis place, where she and Matilda had
walked at recess--Miss Tabitha Hanks went home that way--but no sign
of the ring could she find. The road was as smooth as a white floor,
too, for the snow was old and well trodden.

Comfort Pease went back to the school-house and opened her
dinner-pail. She looked miserably at the pancakes, the bread and
butter, and the apple-pie and cheese, and tried to eat, but she could
not. She put the cover on the pail, leaned her head on the desk in
front, and sat quite still until the scholars began to return. Then
she lifted her head, got out her spelling-book, and tried to study.
Miss Tabitha came back early, so nobody dared tease her; and the cold
was so bitter and the sky so overcast that they were not obliged to
go out at recess. Comfort studied and recited, and never a smile came
on her pale, sober little face. Matilda whispered to know if she were
sick, but Comfort only shook her head.

Sometimes Comfort saw Miss Tabitha watching her with an odd
expression, and she wondered forlornly what it meant. She did not
dream of going to Miss Tabitha with her trouble. She felt quite sure
she would get no sympathy in that quarter.