“Well, now, David, that isn’t quite natural, you know. Why do you think she doesn’t want one?”
“I heard say she was crossed once.”
“Crossed, David? And what might that be?” asked Forbes in a delighted feint of perplexity.
“Disappointed in love, you know.” 25
“Yes; it all comes back now––the gossip of my boyhood days. She was going with a man when Barnabas’ wife died and left two children––one a baby––and Miss M’ri gave up her lover to do her duty by her brother’s family. So Barnabas never married again?”
“No; Miss M’ri keeps house and brings up Jud and Janey.”
“I remember Jud––mean little shaver. Janey must be the baby.”
“She’s eight now.”
“I remember you, David. You were a little toddler of four––all eyes. Your folks had a place right on the edge of town.”
“We left it when I was six years old and came out here,” informed David.