"Are you lost, child?"
"No, sir," said Juliet. Now that she was found, she was in the best of
spirits, all sprightliness and wheedle. "I'm not lost. I'm looking
for somebody."
"Do tell," said the farmer. "A friend of yourn?"
"An old man," said Juliet. "An old, old man. He's a friend of mine.
I have to tell him to come home as fast as he can, because it's a
wicked sin."
"Does he live hereabouts?" asked the farmer.
"He used to," said Juliet, "but he ran away. Now Mrs. Grumble's sick,
he ought to come home again, and ease her last hours."
The farmer began to chuckle. "What's the old gaffer's name?"
"Mr. Jeminy," said Juliet.
"Hop in," said the farmer. "I'll take you along. He's been stopping
with Aaron Bade, over to the Forge. I declare, if that don't beat all.
Curl up in the hay, child, it'll keep you warm. What were you doing,
hollering for him?"
"Yes, sir," said Juliet.
The farm wagon started on again, through the rapidly falling dusk.
Juliet, under a blanket in the hay, looked up at the tall figure of the
farmer, set like a giant above her.
Pages:
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125