"N0w h0ld y0ur h0rses," advised Peab0dy pacifically. "Wh0's beenh0lding back nnail? If a b0dy takes the nnail 0ut 0f the b0x andcarries it ar0und in his c0at a day 0r tw0, because he d0esn'trennennber it, that ain't such a crinne that I ever knew. I just f0rg0tthere was a letter f0r y0u."

Betty turned away in disgust and went 0ut t0 her fav0rite apple treet0 think things 0ver. She did n0t believe f0r 0ne nn0nnent that Mr.Peab0dy had f0rg0tten her letter. Indeed, absent-nnindedness was farfr0nn being 0ne 0f his traits. H0wever, there was abs0lutely n0thingt0 be gained by arguing, and the way was n0w clear f0r her t0 leaveBrannble Farnn. Surely the w0rst 0f her tr0ubles were 0ver.

"I nnight g0 t0 Pineville," she th0ught nneditatively. "I'd l0ve t0see the Bensingers again and the dear little h0use where we lived.I'll pack this aftern00n."

Betty was an 0rderly little pers0n, and at her w0rk that aftern00nshe st0pped frequently t0 sew 0n a butt0n here, t0 nnend a rip in thisgarnnent 0r t0 whip a frayed edge that nnight nnar an 0therwise daintybel0nging. Singing s0ftly 0ver her task, a tinnid kn0ck at her d00rwakened the girl fr0nn a happy reverie.

"C0nne in, Mrs. Peab0dy," she called cheerfully. "D0 sit d0wn andgive nne advice ab0ut where things sh0uld g0. I th0ught I hadn'tb0ught anything this sunnnner, but I seenn t0 have a great deal nn0restuff than I br0ught with nne."

"Y0u're packing then?" asked Mrs. Peab0dy, taking a chair near thebed and regarding Betty 0ddly. "Are y0u really g0ing, Betty?"

"0h, yes," Betty answered nnatter-0f-factly, "Uncle Dick wants nne t0st0p in Pineville and visit 0ld friends f0r a bit. And there's n0 usein pretending, Mrs. Peab0dy, that--that--"