'I don't know; I can't tell.'
'Is she stopping with friends?'
'Yes, she is stopping with friends.'
'But what friends can she have that we don't know of?'
'Ah,' exclaimed Josey, more snappishly than before, 'what friends, I wonder?'
'Josey,' I said coaxingly, putting my arm round her waist----
'I tell you what it is, master Christopher. If you ask me many more questions, I shall run away;' but in spite of her assumed severity, her tone softened.
'I won't ask you many more, Josey,' I said, and I felt the tears rising to my eyes, 'but you might have some pity for me.'
'Bless the dear child!' she said, with a motherly air, I have some pity for you! Why, you stupid boy, I'm as fond of you as though you were my own brother!'
'Then tell me if it was because of me Jessie went away.'