Birds and squirrels hadceased song and
chatter.
No long white thing like Mertie sleeps in, he
asserted belligerently. Gradually as the fire died down to a pale red glow the room
darkened. Before she opened her eyes she smelled wood smoke.
Dick picked up a bucket and a rifle, and made ready
to start.
She grew cramped and cold from sitting so long on
theuncomfortable chair, writing on her lap.
After breakfast, Lucy was greatly interested in the
brief preparationsfor school. Edd, come an eat, if youre hungry, called his mother
from thekitchen. Mary and the twins were fast asleep in one of the
beds.
The children of pioneers should have some of
theconveniences of civilisation.
You sleep in here with the children, she said
simply. Lucy was both relieved and amused at Allies grasp of the
situation.
Wal, Miss Lucy, heres your bags without a scratch,
said Sam Johnsonsdrawling voice. Wal, it was your fault Edd packed to Winbrook,
retorted her mother. Water dripped from him and ran inlittle streams over the hearth
to sizzle on the hot ashes.
This accomplishment afforded her great
satisfaction.
Wal, ma, we got the field ploughed, an now let her
rain, announcedDenmeade.
She stepped out from under the pine into a gladeand
threw back her head.
Theheads of the little girls and Dan just topped
the level of the table.
Why, the dinged galoot had somethin of mine! Birds
and squirrels hadceased song and chatter.
An if the storm breaks beforethen hell have
somethin tough.
The children gravitated to Lucy, who essayed toplay
with them on the windy porch.
After breakfast, Lucy was greatly interested in the
brief preparationsfor school. Nevertheless, Lucy had never before been so grateful
for a bed.
She would be happy to face the morrow, come what
might.
Lucy did not under-estimate the problem onher
hands.
It seemed a continuous thunder and itroused in her
unaccustomed feelings.
NervouslyLucy gazed about her to see if there were
other dead trees.
Lucy addressed him once, but forall the answer she
got he might as well have been deaf. She espiedseveral and many bleached gnarled
branches shaking in the wind. Shore he pitcheswhen one of these long-legged
Denmeades rake him.
Wal, I reckon Dick is shore handy with tools,
replied Denmeade.