Little Reginald had failed to understand the verse, and sat staring at Aunt Charlotte with round eyes. He was a handsome little fellow, with soft flaxen curls, and a smart, sturdy figure, and as he looked up into Aunt Charlotte's face, he seemed like a pudgy cupid whom some one had dressed in a sailor suit.
Singing followed the reading, and all through the two merry songs which they sang, Reginald watched Aunt Charlotte, and wondered over the verse which she had read. When the arithmetic lesson was over, Aunt Charlotte asked if any one had a question to ask.
Katie Dean wished to hear an example explained, and when it had been made clear to her, Reginald held up his hand.
Aunt Charlotte explained the verse, and Reginald listened, but it was easy to see that he was disappointed.
"Do you understand now what the peacemakers are?" Aunt Charlotte asked.
"Yes'm," said Reginald, "but I wish I didn't."
"'Cause I thought grandma was a peacemaker," Reginald said, "for she's _piecin'_ a silk patchwork quilt, an' papa said she'd be _blessed_ glad when it's done."
Aunt Charlotte was the only one who did not laugh, but the small boy was not at all vexed.
"_You_ needn't laugh," he said to Katie, "for you've seen her makin' pieces out of silk, an' what's the difference between _makin' pieces_ an' _peacemakin'_?"
When recess time came Mollie had forgotten to ask Nina if her cousin was to be a pupil, and it happened that neither of the others questioned her.
They were in the midst of a game of hide-and-seek, when Mollie, who, with Nina, was hiding behind a large rosebush, looked up just in time to see the garden gate open.
"Why, that's Arabella!" said Nina, "but why has she brought her Aunt Matilda with her?"
"I guess she didn't," whispered Mollie, "it's likely her Aunt Matilda's bringing _her_."
Nina stifled a laugh, and they saw the two go along the walk, and enter the cottage.
Flossie, who had been "it," ran quite around the house, and the others "ran in," Reginald loudly shouting, "All in, all in!"
Flossie returned, laughing gaily to think that they had all got in free. Then they commenced to talk of the new pupil, and quite forgot their game.
The schoolroom windows were open, and Aunt Matilda's shrill, piping voice could be plainly heard, but the children were not near enough to know what she was saying.