to go home and come back. I sayed whether I have the darst to go
home till half-past three. Pop he's went to Lancaster, and he'll
be back till half-past three a'ready, and he says then I got to be
home to help him in the celery-beds."

Miss Margaret held her pretty head on one side, considering, as
she looked down into the little girl's upturned face. "Is this a
conundrum, Tillie? How your father be in Lancaster now and yet be
home until half-past three? It's uncanny. Unless," she added, a
ray of light coming to her,--"unless 'till' means BY. Your father
will be home BY half-past three and wants you then?"

"Yes, ma'am. I can't talk just so right," said Tillie
apologetically, "like what you can. Yes, sometimes I say my we's
like my w's, yet!"

Miss Margaret laughed. "Bless your little heart!" she said,
running her fingers through Tillie's hair. "But you would rather
stay in school until four, wouldn't you, than go home to help your
father in the celery-beds?"

"Oh, yes, ma'am," said Tillie wistfully, "but pop he has to get
them beds through till Saturday market a'ready, and so we got to
get 'em done behind Thursday or Friday yet."

"If I say you can't go home?"

Tillie colored all over her sensitive little face as, instead of
answering, she nervously worked her toe into a crack in the
platform.