Some time after Phares left the girl at the end of the lane David Eby came swinging down the hill and entered the Metz kitchen.
"Hello, Aunt Maria. Where's Phœbe?"
"Why, I guess over at the quarry. She went for pennyroyal long ago and then Phares came and he went over after her, but I saw him go on the way to town a bit ago, so I guess she's still over there. Guess she's stumbling around after a bird's nest or picking some weeds that ain't no good. I don't see why she stays so long."
"I'll go see," volunteered David.
"Yes well. And tell her to hurry with that pennyroyal. I want it for red ants, but they can carry away the whole jelly cupboard till she gets here."
"I'll tell her," said David, and went off, whistling.
Phœbe's paroxysm of grief was short-lived. The soothing quiet of the quarry calmed her, but her eyes showed telltale marks of tears as David's steps sounded down the lane.
She rose hastily, then sank back to her seat under the tree as she saw the identity of the intruder.
"Whew, Phœbe Metz," he said and whistled in his old, boyish way as he sat beside her, "you're crying!"
"I am not," she declared.