“That’s better’n if it made her mad,” said Joshua, who was warming his hands at the stove.
“I ain’t sure that it won’t make her mad later,” said Lucinda. “Say, but she is a Tartar since she came back. Seems some days’s if I couldn’t live.”
“You’ll live,” said Joshua, and, as his hands were now well-warmed, he went out again.
After a while Aunt Mary’s bell jangled violently and Lucinda had to hurry back.
“Lucinda, did the doctor say anythin’ to you about how long he thought I might be sick?”
“Yes, he did.”
“What did he say? I want to know jus’ what he said. Speak up!”
“He said he didn’t have no idea how long you’d be sick.”
Aunt Mary threw a look at Lucinda that ought to have annihilated her.
“I want to see Jack,” she said. “Bring my writin’ desk. Right off. Quick.”