I didn't
know but you might have met her."
"Met her! Tut--tut--tut! If that ain't--and in a typhoon like last
night! Oh, sartin, I met her! I was up here on top of Meetin'-house
Hill, larnin' her to swim in the mud puddles. You do talk so silly
sometimes, Hannah."
"Maybe I do," with a sniff. "Maybe I do, Kenelm, but you mean so much to
me. I just can't let you go."
"Go! I ain't goin' nowheres, am I? What kind of talk's that?"
"And to think you'd heave away that umbrella--the umbrella I gave you!
That's what makes me feel so bad. A nice, new, gilt-plated umbrella--"
"I never hove it away. I--I--well, I left it somewheres, I--I cal'late.
I'll go look for it after breakfast. Say, when are we goin' to have
breakfast, anyhow? It's almost eight o'clock now. Ain't them women-folks
EVER goin' to turn out?"
Thankful had heard enough. She was out of bed the next instant.
"Emily! Emily!" she cried. "It's late. We must get up now."
The voices in the sitting-room died to whispers.
"I--I can't help it," pleaded Kenelm. "I never meant nothin'. I thought
they was asleep. And 'TIS most eight. By time, Hannah, you do pick on
me--"
A vigorous "Sshh!" interrupted him. The door between the sitting-room
and dining-room closed with a slam. Mrs. Barnes and Emily dressed
hurriedly.
They gathered about the breakfast table, the Parkers, Captain Obed and
the guests. Miss Parker's "company manner" was again much in evidence
and she seemed to feel it her duty to lead the conversation.
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