I COULD N'T eat scorched porridge and my stomach just felt so queer and empty . The gum helped a lot -- and I did n't chew VERY hard . I did n't make any noise and I never cracked the gum once . '' `` You must n't chew gum in church , anyhow , '' insisted Jerry . `` Do n't let me catch you at it again . '' `` You chewed yourself in prayer-meeting last week , '' cried Faith . `` THAT 'S different , '' said Jerry loftily . `` Prayer-meeting is n't on Sunday . Besides , I sat away at the back in a dark seat and nobody saw me . You were sitting right up front where every one saw you . And I took the gum out of my mouth for the last hymn and stuck it on the back of the pew right up in front where every one saw you . And I took the gum out of my mouth for the last hymn and stuck it on the back of the pew in front of me . Then I came away and forgot it . I went back to get it next morning , but it was gone . I suppose Rod Warren swiped it . And it was a dandy chew . '' Mary Vance walked down the Valley with her head held high . She had on a new blue velvet cap with a scarlet rosette in it , a coat of navy blue cloth and a little squirrel-fur muff . She was very conscious of her new clothes and very well pleased with herself . Her hair was elaborately crimped , her face was quite plump , her cheeks rosy , her white eyes shining .
She did not look much like the forlorn and ragged waif the Merediths had found XXXXX the old Taylor barn .
Besides Jerry at in of on prayer-meeting to up with