"Well, if you want to know, I listened outside the door," said
'Manda Grier, "and you wa'n't sayin' a word, either of you. I guess
I got a key now that'll do," she added, setting down her lamp, "and
I borrowed an old Bible 't I guess 'tain't go'n' to hurt a great
deal."
"I don't know as I want to play it much," said Statira.
"Well, I guess you got to, now," said 'Manda Grier, "after all my
trouble. Hain't she, Mr. Barker?"
It flattered Lemuel through and through to be appealed to, but he
could not say anything.
"Well," said Statira, "if I got to, I got to. But you got to hold
the Bible."
"You got to put the key in!" cried 'Manda Grier. She sat holding the
Bible open toward Statira.
She offered to put the key in, and then she stopped. "Well! I'm
great! Who are we going to find it for first?"
"Oh, company first," said 'Manda Grier.
"You company, Mr. Barker?" asked Statira, looking at Lemuel over her
shoulder.
"I hope not," said Lemuel gallantly, at last.
"Well, I declare!" said Statira.
"Quite one the family," said 'Manda Grier, and that made Statira
say, "'Manda!" and Lemuel blush to his hair. "Well, anyway,"
continued 'Manda Grier, "you're company enough to have your fate
found first. Put in the key, S'tira."
"No, I sha'n't do it."
"Well, _I_ shall, then!" She took the key from Statira, and
shut the book upon it at the Song of Solomon, and bound it tightly
in with a ribbon.
Pages:
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169