Part 13 (1/2)
”May we go down to the woods--the big woods?” asked Carey.
”It's too far for you to walk, dear,” remonstrated her mother.
”David says he'll draw me in my little cart.”
”Who is it that was afraid to go into the big woods, and thought it was a forest filled with wild beasts and scary things?” demanded Mr.
Winthrop.
The earnest eyes fixed on his were not at all abashed.
”With him, with David,” she said simply, ”I would have no afraidments.”
”Afraidments?” he repeated perplexedly. ”I am not sure I understand.”
”Don't tease, Arthur; it's a very good word,” interposed Mrs. Winthrop quickly. ”It seems to have a different meaning from fear.”
”Come up here, David,” bade Mr. Winthrop, ”and let me see what there is in you to inspire one with no 'afraidments'.”
The boy came up on the steps, and did not falter under the keen but good-humored gaze.
”Do you like to play with little girls, David?”
”I like to play with these little girls,” admitted David.
”And what do you like to do besides that?”
”I like to shoot.”
”Oh, a hunter?”
”No; I like to shoot at a mark.”
”And what else?”
”I like to read, and fish, and swim, and--”
”Eat ice cream!” finished Janey roguishly, showing her dimples.
The man caught her up in his arms.
”You are a darling, and I wish my little girl had such rosy cheeks.
David, can you show me where there is good fis.h.i.+ng?”
”Uncle Larimy can show you the best places. He knows where the ba.s.s live, and how to coax them to bite.”
”And will you take me to this wonderful person to-morrow?”
”Yes, sir.”
Carey now came out of the hall with her cart, and David drew her across the lawn, Janey dancing by his side. Down through the meadows wound a wheel-tracked road leading to a patch of dense woods which, to a little girl with a big imagination, could easily become a wild forest infested with all sorts of nameless terrors--terrors that make one draw the bedclothes snugly over the head at night. She gave a little frightened cry as they came into the cool, olive depths.