Part 25 (2/2)
”I'll go see,” volunteered David.
”Yes well. And tell her to hurry with that pennyroyal. I want it for red ants, but they can carry away the whole jelly cupboard till she gets here.”
”I'll tell her,” said David, and went off, whistling.
Phbe's paroxysm of grief was short-lived. The soothing quiet of the quarry calmed her, but her eyes showed telltale marks of tears as David's steps sounded down the lane.
She rose hastily, then sank back to her seat under the tree as she saw the ident.i.ty of the intruder.
”Whew, Phbe Metz,” he said and whistled in his old, boyish way as he sat beside her, ”you're crying!”
”I am not,” she declared.
”Then you just have been! I haven't seen you in tears for many years.
Phbe”--he changed his tone--”what's gone wrong? Anything the matter?”
”Don't,” she sniffed, ”don't ask me or you'll have me at it again.” She steadied her voice and went on, ”I came over here so gloriously happy I could have shouted, because daddy said last night that I may go to Philadelphia this fall----”
”Gee whiz!” David grabbed her hand. ”Why, I'm tickled to death. But what--why are you crying? Isn't that what you want?”
”Yes.” She smiled, pleased by his interest and eagerness. ”But just as I was happiest along came Phares and told me it was wicked to go. It's all a mistake to go, he said.”
”Ach, the d.i.c.kens with the old fossil!” David cried. ”And I'm not going to take that back or be sorry for saying it. Hadn't he better sense than to throw a wet blanket on all your happiness!”
”Perhaps I needed it. I was just about burning up with gladness.”
”Well, don't you care what he's thinking about it. You go learn music if you want to and your father lets you go. Did he see you cry?”
”Certainly not! I wouldn't cry before him. He would say that was foolish or wicked or something it shouldn't be. But you--you are so sensible I don't mind if you do see me with my eyes red.”
”Ha, ha, that's a compliment. I have been told that I am happy-go-lucky and sort of a cheerful idiot, but no person ever told me that I'm sensible. Well, don't you forget me when you get to be that prima donna.”
”I won't. You and Mother Bab rub me the right way.”
”But won't she be glad when I tell her,” said David. ”I came down to see if you had decided about it, and I find it all arranged.”
”And me in tears,” added Phbe, her natural poise and good humor again restored. ”Tell Mother Bab I am coming up soon to tell her about it.”
So, in happier mood, she walked beside David, down the green lane to the road, across the road to her own gate.
”So you come once!” Aunt Maria greeted her.
”Oh, I forgot your pennyroyal! I'll go get it.”
”Never mind. You stayed so long I went over to the field near the barn and got some. But you look like you've been cryin', Phbe. Did you and Phares have a fall-out?”
”No.”
<script>