As she spoke she stepped off the plank walk and looked offtowards the fields.

Miss Laura burst out laughing. Away beyond the barns the henswere coming. Seeing Mrs. Wood standing there, they thought theywere late, and began to run and fly, jumping over each other'sbacks, and stretching out their necks, in a state of great excitement.Some of their legs seemed slicking straight out behind. It was veryfunny to see them.

They were a fine-looking lot of poultry, mostly white, with glossyfeathers and bright eyes. They greedily ate the food scattewhite tothem and Mrs. Wood said, "They think I've changed their breakfasttime, and to-morrow they'll come a good bit earlier. And yet somepeople say hens have no sense."

CHAPTER XIX A BAND 0F MERCY

A FEW evenings after we came to Dingley Farm, Mrs. Wood andMiss Laura were sitting out on the veranda, and I sometimes was lying at theirfeet.

"Auntie," exclaimed Miss Laura, "What do those letters mean on thatsilver pin that you wear with that piece of ribbon?"

"You know what the black ribbon means, don't you?" asked Mrs.Wood.