"Don't you want me to have any fun?" returned Miss Mehitable, quite excited, for the price of the hat caused the matter to be portentous.
"Let him pay for it," she considered recklessly. "What's the harm as long as he and I are the only ones who know it, and wild horses couldn't drag it out of me?"
So, Geraldine carrying the large hatbox, they at last pursued their way to the railway station and with mutual sighs of relief stowed themselves into the train for Keefe.
"What you thinkin' about, child?" demanded Miss Mehitable after a long period of silence.
Geraldine met her regard wistfully. "I was wondering if anybody is ever perfectly happy. Isn't there always some drawback, some 'if' that has to be met?"
"Was you thinkin' about Mrs. Barry, Geraldine? I'm sorry she had one o' her haughty spells that day—"
"No, I was not thinking of her; it is Mr. Barry—Ben. He went on a very dangerous errand yesterday."
"You don't say so! Why, he came in as gay as a lark with those apple blossoms and he went out to his machine whistlin'. He couldn't have had much on his mind. You know I told you yesterday he's as sensible as he is brave."
"What good is bravery against a madman with a gun—still he promised, he promised me he would not go to the farm alone."
"Then he'll abide by it. You do give me a turn, Geraldine, talkin' about madmen and guns."