Part 4 (1/2)
”Oh, we wouldn't think of troubling you so much,” demurred Dorothy.
”Is there any store around?” asked Ned, significantly.
”One a mile off that has not a morsel fit to eat in it. I'd as soon swallow poison as eat anything out of that place. Here, young girl (to Tavia), you run down to the dairy there, the door is unlocked, and bring up a pail of milk that's on the bench under the window. I'll give you a couple of gla.s.ses and you can help yourselves until Sam gets done.”
Tavia hurried off, willing enough to fetch the milk, and before she reached the door on her return trip--there was Nat!
n.o.body dared to laugh. What might Mrs. Hardy think?
But Nat in overalls! And a dark blue s.h.i.+rt! And the yellow sneaks!
”Splendid,” declared Dorothy, feeling the absolute necessity of saying something grateful.
”I feel like a new man,” said Nat.
”Bet you do now,” spoke Mrs. Hardy, looking him over approvingly.
”Nothing like clean clothes, and them is becoming.”
Nat went near her so he could carry on conversation without delaying the dinner preparations.
”That spring suit,” he said laughing, ”I'll just throw down on the rubbish heap. The clothes are so covered with mud, I am sure they never could be cleaned, and if Sam will have time to get in town before the picnic perhaps he can sell me these things. Or, if not, I'll buy whatever he wants and send them out.”
”Well, he won't need the overalls till next week,” answered the mother.
”Then I can buy them?” asked Nat.
”And the shoes--”
”I'll have a pair sent out directly I reach town. I'll see that they come special so there will be no mistake.”
”And the s.h.i.+rt--you are welcome to that.”
”Now then,” said Nat, ”here's five dollars, whatever will be over the price of the clothes I am sure I owe you--”
”Five dollars!” exclaimed the woman with genuine surprise. ”Why, bless you boy, that would buy my Sam a full, whole winter suit.”
”Get him one, then,” insisted Nat. ”I would be glad to help him, as he certainly has helped me greatly. Just surprise him with a new suit for the picnic. We'll be off as soon as I get my share of that milk, if they have left me any, then he will know nothing of the accident. You can give him a complete surprise,” seeing the look of delight on the poor woman's face.
”But you dasen't drink none of that cold milk,” she protested. ”Step right over here to a cup of tea, it's just fresh. But I don't feel I should take all that money.”
”Oh, just to give Sam a little surprise,” argued Nat, ”and indeed, I owe it to you, for I might have taken an awful cold,” and he drank down his ”piping” hot tea.
”Well, Sam will be happy,” admitted the mother fondly, ”and if you can afford it--”
”Of course I can. There, they have actually stopped drinking. We are so much obliged for the invitation to take dinner, Mrs. Hardy, but we couldn't really stay,” finished Nat.
”No,” said Dorothy, coming in at that moment, ”it is very kind of you to ask us, Mrs. Hardy, but my cousin says we must go on. Here is something for the milk--”
”No more money!” declared the woman. ”I've taken more now than the Bible would say was due me.”