“To-morrow,” he said in surprise.
In spite of her exclamation of astonishment Elizabeth noted a familiar look on Hugh Noland’s face which had something in it that always caught her attention. Always when an unexpected thing came upon Hugh, Elizabeth had a sense of having had past relations with him.
“You don’t tell me you didn’t know?”
“I surely didn’t. When did John go to see the men about it? Why, I haven’t even bread baked!” she exclaimed.
“That’s funny! Well—I suppose he forgot to tell you. The men passed here before dinner and he went out to the road and engaged them. We’ve got a little corn left over, and prices seem to be up this week.”
“Well, it’s only one of many things,” she said, trying to smile.
Her eyes wandered over the disordered bedroom as she considered. Clothing, boots, shoes, and other articles of apparel lay scattered over the bed. Her orderly soul could not leave them without finishing.
“I’ll tell you what you do—I’ll straighten up here. You go over to Uncle Nate’s and get me some yeast. I’ll have to bake. I made him some yeast the last time I made for myself, and he’ll have some left. It’s been too damp and cloudy to make any of late. Then I’ll see what you can do,” she said wearily. “I surely will need help if I’ve got to have a dozen extra men without notice. I suppose John forgot. He’s usually thoughtful about the cooking for strange men.”
Something in the hurt, weary look of her went to Hugh Noland’s heart.
“I’ll run over to Hornby’s and back in half an hour unless he’s at the far side of the field. Anyhow, I’ll get back the very first minute I can. I have to start to Mitchell County to-morrow, early in the morning, so I won’t have any time to do anything except to-night. I can kill the chickens for you, and bring things up out of the cellar. What on earth made anybody put a cave as far from the kitchen door as that for is more than I can see,” he said, taking vengeance on the first unpleasant feature of her circumstances that presented itself.