Within the schoolroom more than one girl was wondering what had happened
to Sarah Ford. Dorothy was worried. Hers was a nature that took all
things seriously, while Tavia insisted on looking on "the easy side" as
she termed Hope. She was hoping with all her heart now, that Sarah Ford
would soon enter the room, but the morning wore on and no Sarah
appeared.

At last recess came. Such whispering among the girls--so many theories
advanced to account for Sarah's disappearance.

"Playin' hookey," was all Tavia said, in the way she had of making light
of things.

"Perhaps she was hurt," whispered Dorothy to Alice MacAllister, a girl
who had always been a close friend.

"I don't think so," said Alice, "Even had she fallen there was nothing
she could strike on, and I have often jumped when I could not go one bit
higher."

"She may have fallen on the rubbish heap," suggested one of the older
girls.

At last school was dismissed.

"I'll wager we find her down the lane taking Widow Drew's apple
blossoms," remarked Tavia, as she and Dorothy started for home. "She may
be going to another party and want a change of decorations,--she wore
honey-suckle last time."