her. "Everybody" was talking, and "everybody" said the same
thing.

"I simply feel that I can't associate with you any longer," she
concluded.

"WE are going to associate with her then," cried Nan Blythe. Nan
secretly thought Faith HAD done a awful thing, but she wasn't
going to let Mary Vance run matters in this high-handed fashion.
"And if YOU are not you needn't come any more to Rainbow Valley,
MISS Vance."

Nan and Di both put their arms around Faith and glared defiance
at Mary. The latter suddenly crumpled up, sat down on a stump
and began to cry.

"It ain't that I don't want to," she wailed. "But if I keep in
with Faith people'll be saying I put her up to doing things.
Some are saying it now, true's you live. I can't afford to have
such things said of me, now that I'm in a respectable place and
trying to be a lady. And _I_ never went bare-legged in church in
my toughest days. I'd never have thought of doing such a thing.
But that hateful old Kitty Alec says Faith has never been the
same girl since that time I stayed in the manse. She says
Cornelia Elliott will live to rue the day she took me in. It
hurts my feelings, I tell you. But it's Mr. Meredith I'm really
worried over."

"I think you needn't worry about him," said Di scornfully. "It
isn't likely necessary. Now, Faith darling, stop crying and tell