Of course Joanne giggled, then she explained.
“Fine scheme,” declared Mr. Pattison. “We could use some fresh eggs ourselves. What’s the matter with going up after them to-morrow afternoon?”
“Oh, Cousin Ned, do you mean me?” inquired Joanne joyously.
“Who else? Your Cousin Sue has other fish to fry, I know. Can you?”
“Just hold the wire a minute till I ask Gradda.” It was scarcely more than a minute before she was back again and saying: “I can go. At first Gradda was inclined to say no, but Grad backed me up and so it is all right. What time shall I be ready?”
“About two o’clock. I think we can easily make it and get back before dark. If we don’t there will be no great harm done; there’s a good road.” He hung up and Joanne returned to the library to find that her grandmother had gone up to her room to write a letter and that her grandfather was alone reading the evening paper.
Presently the paper was flung aside and Dr. Selden looked over to where Joanne was toiling over the intricacies of a piece of crocheting. He watched her for a few minutes before he said: “Well, Pickings, how goes it?”
Joanne laid down her work. “It’s very puzzlesome,” she declared. “I can’t make the rows come out even; they’re either too long or too short, and yet I try to count the stitches. I’m afraid I’ll never be an expert at fancy work. I think I’ll make you a garment, Grad. What would you like?”
“A breakfast jacket or a Tuxedo wouldn’t be bad,” he replied with a quizzical look in his eyes. “Everything in the way of clothing is so high-priced now that I would be very grateful for any little help in the way of a coat of some sort.”
“Now, Grad, you know I couldn’t make a coat.”