"
"_I_ don't," said 'Manda Grier. "And I didn't know who you
meant this afternoon when you was standin' watch 't the window, and
says you, 'There! there he is!' and I had to run so quick with the
dipper of water I had in my hand to water the plants that I poured
it all over the front of my dress."
"_Do_ you believe her?" asked Statira.
"And I didn't know who you meant," proceeded 'Manda Grier, busy with
the cups and saucers, "when you kept hurryin' me up to change it;
'Oh, quick, quick! How long you are! I know he'll get away; I
_know_ he will!' and I had to just _sling_ on a shawl and rush out after
this boneset."
"There! Now that _shows_ she's makin' it all up!" cried
Statira. "She put on a sack, and I helped her on with it myself. So
there!"
"Well, if it _was_ a sack! And after all, the young man was
gone when I got down int' the street," concluded 'Manda Grier
solemnly.
Lemuel had thought she was talking about him; but now a pang of
jealousy went through him, and showed at the eyes he fixed on her.
"I don't know what I sh'd 'a' done," she resumed demurely, "if I
hadn't have found Mr. Barker at the apothecary's and got _him_
to come home 'th me; but of course, 'twan't the same as if it was
the young man!"
Lemuel's arm fell from Statira's waist in his torment.
"Why, Lemuel!" she said in tender reproach.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223