He stopped short, noticing the significant look in M’ri’s eyes and the two patches of color spreading over David’s thin cheeks. He recalled that four years ago the boy’s father had died in state prison. 15
“You’d better go right over to Zine’s,” he added abruptly.
“I’ll wait till after dinner. We’ll have it early.”
“Hev it now,” suggested Barnabas.
“Now!” ejaculated David. “It’s only half-past ten.”
“I could eat it now jest as well as I could at twelve,” argued the philosophical Barnabas. “Jest as leaves as not.”
There were no iron-clad rules in this comfortable household, especially when Pennyroyal, the help, was away.
“All right,” assented M’ri with alacrity. “If I am going to do anything, I like to do it right off quick and get it over with. You stay, David, if you can eat dinner so early.”
“Yes, I can,” he assured her, recalling his scanty breakfast and the freezer of cream that was to furnish the dessert. “I’ll help you get it, Miss M’ri.”
He brought a pail of water from the well, filled the teakettle, and then pared the potatoes for her. 16