Part 11 (1/2)
”You sha'n't ever be sorry for what you have done. I'll work awful hard, an' take care of the baby whenever you've got somethin' else to do.”
”I know you are a good boy, Jack, and I wouldn't undo what's been done if I could; but at the same time my conscience will reproach me, for I realize that I acted wickedly.”
So far as the sin was concerned, Jack did not think it of great importance, and wondered not a little that as good a woman as Aunt Nancy should attach so much importance to what, in his mind at least, was nothing more than a charitable act.
He took care not to give expression to his thoughts, however, and led the way back to the old oak-tree, where he said,--
”You sit down here awhile, an' I'll go out to make certain that man has gone. It might be he's waitin' 'round somewhere to find whether we're really here.”
”I don't think there is any danger of that,” Aunt Nancy replied as she seated herself on the bench and fondled Louis until the little fellow was tired of caresses.
Jack could not be comfortable in mind unless positive his enemy had left the vicinity, and he walked quite a long distance up the road before convincing himself of the fact.
When he returned the desire to make himself necessary to the little woman was stronger than ever, and he proposed to finish the work of fence mending at once.
”Better wait till after dinner now that it is so near noon,” she said.
”We'll have a quiet talk, and then I will start the fire.”
”Is it about Farmer Pratt you want to say something?”
”No, we'll try to put him out of our minds. It is the baby.”
”What's the matter with him?”
”He must have another frock and some clothes. These are very dirty, and I'm afraid he'd take cold if I should wash them at night, and put them on again in the morning.”
”Haven't you got an old dress like the one I wore? By pinnin' it up he'd get along all right.”
”Indeed he wouldn't, Jack. Boys can't be expected to know what a child needs; but it puzzles me how to get the material from the store.”
”What's the matter with my goin' after it?”
”It is a very long distance--more than four miles away.”
”That's all right; I walked a good deal farther the day I came here.
Jest say what you want, an' I'll go after it now.”
”Do you really think you could get back before sunset?”
”I'm certain of it, providin' I don't wait for dinner.”
”But you must have something to eat, Jack dear.”
”I can take a slice of bread and b.u.t.ter in my hand, an' that'll last me more'n four miles.”
”I have half a mind to let you go,” Aunt Nancy said as if to herself, and Jack insisted so strongly that she finally decided he should do the shopping.