"No, but she thought it would be best," Marigold explained.
"Yes," he acquiesced, "best for you. Mothers don't think of themselves."
After that they parted. Farmer Jo and his mother went one way, and the Misses Holcroft with Marigold in the opposite direction.
"I am glad we had an opportunity of thanking Mr. Adams," Miss Holcroft said. "What a strange coincidence that you should have known his mother, Pamela!"
"They are an eccentric couple," her sister responded. "Mrs. Nowell told me about them. They are rich, but live a very simple life on their farm, and seem quite happy and contented with a quiet, uneventful existence. They are extremely generous to those less fortunate than themselves; Mrs. Nowell gave me several instances of their kindliness to others. I took a fancy to the old lady when I first met her."
"I hope we shall see her again," Miss Holcroft said.
"So that is the Farmer Jo you mentioned on the night of your arrival, Marigold," Miss Pamela continued; "I think you were right in your estimate of him, child, for I do not doubt he is a good man."
Marigold smiled and coloured with pleasure, for she was very grateful to Farmer Jo. He had engaged her attention, and had cheered her when she had been sad and low-spirited after her parting from her mother, and she had been terribly afraid that Aunt Pamela would not approve of his big person and loud voice. But Miss Pamela was far more discerning than her little niece realised; those keen eyes of hers, that were so sharp to detect anything false or mean, were not slow to recognise truth and goodness. Mrs. Adams and her son might be peculiar and unusual, but there was about each the stamp of sincerity that Miss Pamela valued above everything.
Miss Holcroft now said she wished to visit someone in her district before returning home; Marigold might accompany her if she wished. The little girl assented willingly, for she had heard her Aunt Mary mention the district where she visited amongst the poor on several occasions, and was curious to see what it was like.
"I am going to see Molly Jenkins," Miss Holcroft explained to her sister. "There is no reason why Marigold should not go with me, is there?"