'I expect you've been leading him a fine life to-night. Poor Turk! Why, he worships the ground she walks upon. I tell you what it is, my sweet child,' she said sarcastically, there's more lessons than one you've got to learn. But to come back. There's some mystery behind all this; but it might be one thing, and it might be another. I'm in a whirl, that's what I am, my dear.'
I really think Josey administered these words to me as a kind of medicine. But she could not deceive me as to the feelings she entertained for Jessie. If any person had dared in her presence to say a word against her friend, she would have been the first to defend her.
'Josey,' I said, 'I shall feel much relieved if you will promise me one thing.'
'That depends. I'm not going to open my mouth and shut my eyes.'
'If Jessie tells you the reason of her going away----'
'Which she's sure to do. Oh, I shall know all about it.'
'And if the knowledge does not come to me in any other way, will you tell me?'
'Upon my word! Me tell a secret? Not for all the world, master Chris.'
'But if it's not a secret?'
'Then of course you'll hear it.' We spoke in an undertone, so as not to disturb my mother, who lay unconscious of what was going on around her. But here you are stopping up,' continued Josey fretfully, when every minute's rest is precious to you and all of us. I have only told you one of my reasons why you must be fresh in the morning--and mind you sleep, master Chris, when you get to bed. I'll tell you another. There'll be the shop to look after.'