“Aren’t you a neighbor?” she persisted.
“Not close,” was the sullen answer.
“Have you lived about here a long time?”
“’Bout’s long as I’ve lived anywhere.” It was impossible to tell whether this was a humorous way of saying that he had lived here always, or whether it was meant to indicate that he was a wanderer.
“We are going to stay here,” went on Elizabeth. “After a while when our orchard is set out, we shall need a good deal of help. Could you give us a hand sometimes?”
“No.”
“Do you know any one who could?”
“No.”
“We really belong here,” explained Elizabeth pleasantly.
The stranger seemed startled.