"All right," said Lemuel, gulping the lump in his throat, and he
followed 'Manda Grier up the flights of stairs to the door of the
girls' room, which she flung open without knocking.
"S'tira," she said, "here's Mr. Barker," and Lemuel, from the dark
landing, where he lurked a moment, could see Statira sitting in the
rocking-chair in a pretty blue dressing-gown; after a first flush
she looked pale, and now and then put up her hand to hide a hoarse
little cough.
XV.
"Walk right in, Mr. Barker," cried 'Manda Grier, and Lemuel entered,
more awkward and sheepish in his new suit from the Misfit Parlours
than he had been before in his Willoughby Pastures best clothes.
Statira merely said, "Why, Mr. Barker!" and stood at her chair where
she rose. "You're quite a stranger. Won't you sit down?"
Lemuel sat down, and 'Manda Grier said politely, "Won't you let me
take your hat, Mr. Barker?" and they both treated him with so much
ceremony and deference that it seemed impossible he could ever have
done such a monstrous thing as kiss a young lady like Miss Dudley;
and he felt that he never could approach the subject even to accept
a just doom at her hands.
They all talked about the weather for a minute, and then 'Manda
Grier said, "Well, I guess I shall have to go down and set this
boneset to steep;" and as he rose, and stood to let her pass, she
caught his arm, and gave it a clutch.
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