She ran out to the barn chamber and, not finding Waitstill,
looked across the field and saw her coming through the path from
the woods. Patty waved her hand, and ran to meet her sister, joy
at the mere fact of her existence, of being able to see her
again, and of hearing her dear voice, almost choking her in its
intensity. When they reached the house she helped her upstairs as
if she were a child, brought her cool water to wash away the dust
of the haymow, laid out some clean clothes for her, and finally
put her on the lounge in the darkened sitting-room.
"I won't let anybody come near the house," she said, "and you
must have a cup of tea and a good sleep before I tell you all
that father said. Just comfort yourself with the thought that he
is going to 'overlook it' this time! After I carry up his
luncheon, I shall stop at the store and ask Cephas to come out on
the river bank for a few minutes. Then I shall proceed to say
what I think of him for telling father where you went yesterday
afternoon."
"Don't blame Cephas!" Waitstill remonstrated. "Can't you see just
how it happened? He and Uncle Bart were sitting in front of the
shop when I drove by. When father came home and found the house
empty and the horse not in the stall, of course he asked where I
was, and Cephas probably said he had seen me drive up Saco Hill.
Pages:
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162