Part 28 (1/2)
”Go right up: I'll finish things here,” whispered Jane hurriedly. ”All is, if you want Martin to go for Melviny, you have only to say the word. You can wave a handkerchief out of the window, an' he'll understand.”
”Where does Miss Grey----”
”For the land sake don't call her that. n.o.body'd know who you meant, an'
she wouldn't, either.”
”Well, Melviny, then--where does she live?”
”Down in the valley--King's Hollow, they call it.”
”Why, it's miles!” protested Lucy in dismay. ”I can't send your brother way down there. He's been doing nothing but errands all day.”
”I know it,” Jane replied. ”He's been to town twice already. He came home this noon with a load of grain an' then changed horses an' went right back to the village again 'cause he forgot something. Likely you noticed him drivin' past.”
The girl colored before Jane's friendly glance. She longed to tell the whole truth, for by nature she was a person of great frankness. Since, however, Martin had not seen fit to enlighten his sisters, perhaps it was wiser that she should not do so. He may have had his own reasons for keeping them in ignorance.
”Lucy!”
”Yes, I'm coming, Aunt Ellen.”
”Do go along,” implored Jane; ”she may suspect something. I'll leave the house all picked up, tidy as a pin. You won't forget to wave to Martin if you want him.”
”No. Thank you a thousand times, Ja--Miss Howe.”
”Jane'll do,” smiled the woman kindly. ”I'm more used to it.”
Catching her visitor's hand in a quick grasp, Lucy pressed it warmly and then sped up the stairs.
”Whatever have you been putterin' about so long?” queried Ellen petulantly.
”I was clearing up.”
”That's good. I guess the place needed it,” sighed her aunt. ”I warn't half through straightenin' things in the kitchen. I thought I heard you talkin'.”
”Heard me?”
”Probably 'twas a notion. My head kinder buzzes.” Then she suddenly turned suspiciously on the girl, adding sharply:
”You ain't been over to the Howes'?”
”No.”
”That's right. An' don't you go, neither. We don't need no help from them.”
A pause followed.
”Did you want me for something?” Lucy at last inquired, after waiting for her aunt to speak.
”Yes, I did.”
Nevertheless Ellen made no further remark for some time. Finally she burst out fretfully: