The girl commenced eating again, mechanically. "You picked these yourselves?" she said. "They grow for anybody to pick?"
"Yes, indeed," replied Edna. "I enjoy it. I think Miss Lacey considers a berrying expedition a good deal of a pleasure exertion."
"They always ripen first in such shut-in fields," objected Miss Lacey.
Edna laughed. "The kind Mrs. Lem would call hot as Topet."
"Oh, I'd love to pick them," said Sylvia. "Do they grow around the Mill Farm, Thinkright?"
Her eyes were shining as she asked her question.
"No. Nowhere around us,—that is, nowhere near. I've often wondered at it."
"Stay here, and go with me, Sylvia," said Edna cordially. "We'll let Miss Martha off, and you and I will take Benny and make a day of it."
"Oh, I'd love to!" exclaimed Sylvia. "I'll try to come over soon."
"Not at all. Always make the most of a bird in the hand. You're here now. I'm going to keep her,—oh, as long as I can, Thinkright."