“Climb up, Puss,” he said, “and I’ll take you around to the barn. Been a good girl to-day? Missed any lessons?”
“I didn’t know how to spell ‘conscientious,’” Jessie told him, “and two examples weren’t quite right.”
“That’s not so bad. A good many people don’t know how to spell ‘conscientious,’” said her father with a little laugh. “Any demerits?”
“One,” said Jessie a little shamefacedly and quickly changing the subject. “I held the flag for 589,” she said. “Ezra let me.”
“The train was late, I know,” said Mr. Loomis. “I heard the whistle and hoped you were safe across.”
“I wasn’t. Ezra wouldn’t let me go, though there was plenty of time. He said suppose I should fall.”
Her father nodded. “He’s right. Nice old chap, Ezra is. Well, here we are. Run in and tell Minerva that Sam has a basket of peaches in the wagon. They’re the last we’ll get this year.”
“Where did you get them, father?”
“From that tree over in the south field; it’s a late variety, but they will be pretty good for preserves.”
“I’m going to have one before that happens,” said Jessie, running into the kitchen and meeting Sam just as he was bringing in the peaches.