"What's the matter, child?" she asked when she opened the door; and
there was still something strange in her tone. While there was
concern there was certainly no surprise.

"My tooth aches dreadfully," sobbed Comfort.

"You had better have some cotton-wool and paregoric on it, then,"
said her mother. Then she went downstairs for cotton-wool and
paregoric, and she ministered to Comfort's aching tooth; but no
cotton-wool or paregoric was there for Comfort's aching heart.

She sobbed so bitterly that her mother looked alarmed. "Comfort, look
here; is there anything else the matter?" she asked, suddenly; and
she put her hand on Comfort's shoulder.

"My tooth aches dreadfully--oh!" Comfort wailed.

"If your tooth aches so bad as all that, you'd better go to Dr.
Hutchins in the morning and have it out," said her mother. "Now you'd
better lie still and try to go to sleep, or you'll be sick."

Comfort's sobs followed her mother all the way downstairs. "Don't you
cry so another minute, or you'll get so nervous you'll be sick," Mrs.
Pease called back; but she sat down and cried awhile herself after
she returned to the sitting-room.

Poor Comfort stifled her sobs under the patchwork quilt, but she
could not stop crying for a long time, and she slept very little that
night. When she did she dreamed that she had found the ring, but had
to wear it around her aching tooth for a punishment, and the tooth