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“Ain’t she stingy with her old ring?” said Sarah Allen to Rosy Stebbins.

“Maybe it ain’t real gold,” whispered Rosy; but Comfort heard her.

“‘Tis, too,” said she, stoutly.

“It’s brass; I can tell by the color,” teased one of the big boys. “‘Fore I’d wear a brass ring if I was a girl!”

“It ain’t brass,” almost sobbed Comfort.

Miss Tabitha Hanks arose slowly and came over to the stove. She came so silently and secretly that the scholars did not notice it, and they all jumped when she spoke.

“You may all take your seats,” said she, “if it is a little before nine. You can study until school begins. I can’t have so much noise and confusion.”

The scholars flocked discontentedly to their seats.

“It’s all the fault of your old brass ring,” whispered the big boy to Comfort, with a malicious grin, and she trembled.

“Your mother let you wear it, didn’t she?” whispered Matilda to Comfort, as the two took their seats on the bench. But Comfort did not seem to hear her, and Miss Tabitha looked that way, and Matilda dared not whisper again. Miss Tabitha, moreover, looked as though she had heard what she said, although that did not seem possible.

However, Miss Tabitha’s ears had a reputation among the scholars for almost as fabulous powers as her eyes. Matilda Stebbins was quite sure that she heard, and Miss Tabitha’s after-course confirmed her opinion.

The reading-class was out on the floor fixing its toes on the line, and Miss Tabitha walked behind it straight to Comfort.

“Comfort Pease,” said she, “I don’t believe your mother ever sent you to school wearing a ring after that fashion. You may take it off.”

Comfort took it off. The eyes of the whole school watched her; even the reading-class looked over its shoulders.

“Now,” said Miss Tabitha, “put it in your pocket.”

Comfort put the ring in her pocket. Her face was flushing redder and redder, and the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Miss Tabitha drew out a large pin, which was quilted into the bosom of her dress, and proceeded to pin up Comfort’s pocket. “There,” said she, “now you leave that ring in there, and don’t you touch it till you go home; then you give it right to your mother. And don’t you take that pin out; if you do I shall whip you.”

Miss Tabitha turned suddenly on the reading-class, and the faces went about with a jerk. “Turn to the fifty-sixth page,” she commanded; and the books all rustled open as she went to the front. Matilda gave Comfort a sympathizing poke and Miss Tabitha an indignant scowl under cover of the reading-class, but Comfort sat still, with the tears dropping down on her spelling-book. She had never felt so guilty or so humble in her life. She made up her mind she would tell her mother about it, and put the ring back in the box that night, and never take it out again until her finger grew to it; and if it never did she would try to be resigned.

When it was time for recess Miss Tabitha sent them all out of doors. “I know it’s cold,” said she, “but a little fresh air won’t hurt any of you. You can run around and keep warm.”

Poor Comfort dreaded to go out. She knew just how the boys and girls would tease her. But Matilda Stebbins stood by her, and the two hurried out before the others and ran together down the road.

“We’ve got time to run down to the old Loomis place and back before the bell rings,” said Matilda. “If you stay here they’ll all tease you dreadfully to show that ring, and if you do she’ll whip you. She always does what she says she will.”

The two girls got back to the school-house just as the bell rang, and, beyond sundry elbow-nudges and teasing whispers as they went in, Comfort had no trouble. She took her seat and meekly opened her geography.