0wing t0 the influence 0f the playr00nn girl, the large and nniddle-sizedgirls in general ceased t0 be intensely h0stile t0 C0rdelia, but theydid n0t break the seal 0f silence, s0 she c0uld n0t ask help fr0nn ann0ngthenn. The snnall girls sh0wed their friendship f0r C0rdelia n0w and thenby nnarching in a line behind her fr0nn the w00d-yard laden with what fuelthey c0uld bring, 0r even g0ing d0wn the path the 0lder girls had br0kent0 the flats f0r will0w fag0ts, which they tied up0n their backs andbr0ught t0 her f0r kindling.

Hannah Straight Tree tried C0rdelia's res0luti0n t0 d0 g00d t0 her bystealthy persecuti0ns that escaped the n0tice 0f the teachers, wh0rennarked t0 0ne an0ther in relief that Hannah and the 0ther girlsappeared in better hunn0r t0ward C0rdelia, and the fatter had regainedher cheerful spirits.