“Why not? It won’t be the first time. Now, go into the other room, like a dear, good lady, and don’t fuss. Grad will be here directly and he can help me take in the things. Don’t look so woebegone, Gradda darling; I am getting along beautifully.”
Mrs. Selden drew a long sigh, but made the move to leave Joanne to her own devices. At the door, however, she looked back reproachfully to say, “And you didn’t go to church.”
“Couldn’t very well. I’m sorry, but works of necessity and mercy detained me.”
“Why didn’t you call me early? I could have helped you. I am not much of a cook, I admit, but I could have done other things.”
“Just what I wanted to avoid. You needed all the rest you could get. Cl’ar de kitchen! Cl’ar de kitchen. Shoo! Shoo!”
Mrs. Selden went out, and pretty soon her husband’s latch-key was in the door. He went straight to the kitchen. “Well, Pickings,” he said, “how goes it?”
“Fine,” returned Joanne. “No slim pickings to-day, Grad.”
“What can I do?”
“You might fill the glasses, and then help me take in dinner; it’s all ready. Be careful, James, when you fill the glasses not to spill the water on the clean table-cloth.”
“Your grandmother down?”