In the meantime, Fast Day came, and
Lemuel got away at last to pay his first visit home.
"Seems to me ye ain't lookin' over and above well, Lem," was the
first thing his mother said to him, even before she noticed how well
he was dressed.
His new spring overcoat, another prize from the Misfit Parlours, and
his new pointed-toe shoes, and Derby hat, with the suit of clothes
he had kept so carefully all through the winter, were not the
complete disguise he had fancied they might be at Willoughby
Pastures. The depot-master had known him as soon as he got out of
the cars, and ignored his splendour in recognising him. He said,
"Hello, Lem," and had not time to reconcile himself to the boy's
changed appearance before Lemuel hurried away with the bag he had
bought so long before for the visit. He met several people on his
way home from the depot: two of them were women, and one of these
said she knew as soon as she looked at him who it was, and the other
said she should have known it was Lem Barker as far as she could see
him. She asked him if he was home for good now.
His mother pushed back his thick hair with her hard old hand as she
spoke to him, and then she pressed his head down upon her neck,
which was mostly collar-bone. But Lemuel could hear her heart beat,
and the tears came into his eyes.
"Oh, I'm all right, mother," he said huskily, though he tried to say
it cheerfully.
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