"
"But, Auntie, he did ask. And do you think he is strong enough?"
"Hush, Emily, hush! You don't know Jedediah. Strong enough! I'm the one
that needs strength, if I'm goin' to have shocks like this one sprung on
me."
Emily said no more, but she noticed that her cousin was wearing the
two-dollar ring, the wanderer's "farewell" gift, so she judged that
brother Jed would not be worked beyond the bounds of moderation.
Left alone in the dining-room--Georgie had returned to the living-room
and his presents--the two women looked at each other. Neither had eaten
a breakfast worth mentioning and the same thought was in the mind of
each.
"Auntie," whispered Emily, voicing that thought, "don't you think we
ought to go up and--and see if he is--all right."
Thankful nodded. "Yes," she said, "I suppose we had. He's alive, I know
that much, for I had Imogene knock on his door just now and he answered.
But I guess maybe we'd better--"
She did not finish the sentence for at that moment the subject of the
conversation entered the room. It was Solomon Cobb who entered, but,
except for his clothes, he was a changed man. His truculent arrogance
was gone, he came in slowly and almost as if he were walking in his
sleep. His collar was unbuttoned, his hair had not been combed, and the
face between the thin bunches of whiskers was white and drawn. He did
not speak to either Emily or Thankful, but, dragging one foot after the
other, crossed the room and sat down in a chair by the window.
Pages:
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357