Between Blackburn Hill and Enderly Road very little social intercourse existed and , as the Road people resented what they called the pride of Blackburn Hill , there was a good deal of bad feeling between the two districts . Presently Frank and I came out on the Enderly Road . We sat on the fence a few minutes to rest and discuss our route home . `` If we go by the road it 's three miles , '' said Frank . `` Is n't there a short cut ? '' `` There ought to be one by the wood-lane that comes out by Jacob Hart 's , '' I answered , `` but I do n't know where to strike it . '' `` Here is someone coming now ; we 'll inquire , '' said Frank , looking up the curve of the hard-frozen road . The `` someone '' was a little girl of about ten years old , who was trotting along with a basketful of school books on her arm . She was a pale , pinched little thing , and her jacket and red hood seemed very old and thin . `` Hello , missy , '' I said , as she came up , and then I stopped , for I saw she had been crying . `` What is the matter ? '' asked Frank , who was much more at ease with children than I was , and had always a warm spot in his heart for their small troubles . `` Has your teacher kept you in for being naughty ? '' The mite dashed her little red knuckles across her eyes and answered indignantly , `` No , indeed . I stayed after school with Minnie Lawler to sweep the floor . '' `` And did you and Minnie quarrel , and is that why you are crying ? '' asked Frank solemnly . `` Minnie and I never quarrel . I am crying because we ca n't have the school decorated on Monday for the examination , after all . The Dickeys have gone back on us ... after promising , too , '' and the tears began to swell up in the blue eyes again .
`` Very bad behaviour on the part XXXXX the Dickeys , '' commented Frank .
If across after as because between by for of to