She shrugged.  "Boys being boys.  But the teachers were pretty good, I suppose.  They are still trying to figure out what level I belong to."  She moved over to where Jenny was cutting.  "What's for dinner?"  She had missed lunch just fine, but she was going to be hungry at dinner.

"Mutton stew, mashed potatoes and vegetables," answered the girl as she continued chopping. Then she turned round to stir a pot over the fire. "Shouldn't ye be in t' field?"

She raised her brow.  "I wasn't told what to do next.  I paused by this lady in the front of the house that was asking for a glass of water.  I'll head up to the field, but could you give her the water?  Who is she, by the way?"  Nat asked.

"Oh!" That seemed to make her jump. "That's Mrs. Appleton. I hope she didn't..." She stopped herself. "Never mind. I'll bring her water. You go out to t' fields."

Nat nodded.    Well, that answered that mystery.  Nat then quickly and turned to head out the door and out to the fields.  She could see fields and figures those were the place to go unless there were more fields somewhere.

Tobias and Jimmy were already in the potato field, bent over, pulling weeds out of the ground. Tobias rose when he saw Nat coming and frowned sternly. "Jimmy said he saw you run off to go play after school. I don't pay ye to come in whenever ye like it," he scolded.

Nat gave Jimmy a look.  "Well, he's not being honest.  I got left behind and had to find my way back.  Thankfully, I am good at remembering landmarks.  I met the Missus on the way in.  She wanted some water, so I let Jenny know and now I am here."  She stated plainly without any angry tone just a statement of the truth.  She didn't add the other things that Jimmy had caused that day, but she wouldn't stand there and let the snot smear her name like that.

"What am I to do?  I've not worked in fields before."  She added looking around at what they seemed to be doing, and thinking she could figure it out, but wanted to be sure.

Tobias' frown deepened as he looked from Nat to Jimmy. "Well, before we continue. One of you is lyin' and I won't 'ave it," he said in a stern tone. "Jimmy?"

"No, ser. I wouldn't lie to ye! It's as I said, 'e ran off with t' other kids ta play football!" said Jimmy, turning red.

"I don't even know how to play football!"  She declared.  "I've kicked it back and forth back in the streets, but who has time to learn living like I did?"  She had not allowed herself to get close enough to anyone to get bumped much.  She had wanted to learn and play, but it was not safe.  "And why would I play with the ones that stole my lunch anyway?"  She added giving Jimmy a look of dislike.

Tobias looked at Nat and then his eyes landed on Jimmy, narrowing a little. "Right... well, I'm sure the teacher and other children can tell me what happened. I'll go see them now. Unless someone wants to own up to their lies and be in less trouble.

Jimmy turned even redder. "Well... that's what I think I saw..." he said quietly.