Part 29 (1/2)

”Men aren't ever bugs,” said Peletiah decidedly.

”Oh, yes, they are.”

”No, they ain't,” he declared obstinately.

”My mother says we mustn't contradict,” put in Ezekiel, with a reproving glance at him across Rachel's lap.

Peletiah unfolded his hands in extreme distress, but he couldn't say that men were bugs, so he sat still.

”Anyway, they are in the city, where I lived,” said Rachel, ”so never mind.

Well, this funeral was just too splendid for anythin'. In the first place there was----”

”Oh, it's coming,” cried Ezekiel, p.r.i.c.king up his ears. ”Miss Bedlow's funeral's coming.”

Rachel gave a jump that carried her off from the door-stone and quite a piece down the box-bordered path. She was hanging over the gate when the boys came up.

”Where?” she said. ”I don't see any.”

A small, black, high-topped wagon went by, the old horse at a jog trot, and after it came a two-seated rockaway, and after that a carryall, and around the curve in the road appeared more vehicles of the same patterns, tapering off to a line of chaises and gigs.

”Why, that's the funeral,” said Peletiah, in solemn enjoyment, and pointing a finger at it; ”it's going by now.”

”What!” exclaimed Rachel, horribly disappointed. Then she flew away from the gate and turned her back on it all. ”I wish I was back in the city!”

she said.

XIII

”SHE'S GOING TO STAY HERE FOREVER”

It was dreadful; and after she had said it, Rachel stood overwhelmed with distress. ”Don't you tell your father.” She whirled around and clutched Peletiah's sleeve.

”We must,” he said; ”he's the minister, and we have to tell him everything.”

”Well, don't tell your mother, anyway,” she begged anxiously.

”We must,” said Peletiah again, ”because we tell her everything, too.”

”Then she'll send me back.” Rachel, quite gone in despair, gave a loud cry and threw herself face downward on the gra.s.s, where she sobbed as if her heart would break.

This was so much worse than he had imagined, as any possible effect from his words, that Peletiah couldn't speak, but stood over her in silent misery. Seeing this, Ezekiel took matters into his own hands.

”I'm going to run after the funeral and get Ma to come home; she'll be at the top of the procession,” and he moved off toward the gateway.

”Stop!” Rachel squealed; then she sprang to her feet. ”Don't you stir a step, you!” she commanded.

”They're all hearing you,” observed Peletiah, who, seeing Rachel upon her feet, found his spirits reviving, and he pointed to the line of buggies and chaises. ”See 'em looking back; my father won't like it.”