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 peevishly. "Right to lend coals; but remember, sugar and flour are high and not to be borrowed."

"Indeed, Squire Briggs," commenced Mehitable spiritedly, then finding Mistress Briggs's eyes fastened upon her imploringly, she relapsed into silence and took up the bucket from the hearth.

"Young tongues should learn meekness," said Squire Briggs with a sour smile.

Miranda followed Mehitable to the door. "You must not mind Father," she said in a hasty whisper. "He is but peculiar."

"He is," agreed Mehitable grimly. Then she suddenly laughed into the other's sober face. "But you're a dear, Randy, and thank you indeed for the coals!"

At the Briggs's gatepost she hesitated. Long and dark the road home stretched before her, while leading up and around back of the house, into the forest itself, she knew the shorter woodland path would take her but half the time.

"I promised Mother I would come by the road," she said to herself, "but I didn't promise I would return by the road."

Poor Mehitable, she did not realize that a promise half broken is nearly as bad as a promise broken all the way! But she soon learned that disobedience inevitably brings its own punishment.

It was quite dark now, as she hurried along the narrow path that familiarity helped her to pass over safely. Upon either side rose the sheer forest. The wind shook the dry leaves that rattled and sighed as