That too, was like Joe, always trying to save his mother needless worry and work.
After a while, as he happened to come close to her in doing something to save her steps, she uttered a little exclamation.
"Did you fall down with the bundle, Darry?" she asked, leaning forward.
He turned a little red, conscious that in some way she must have discovered signs of his recent adventure on the road.
"Oh! no, it was not heavy at all, ma'am," he replied, and then noting that her eyes were fastened on his cheek he put up his hand, in this way discovering for the first time, a little soreness there.
When he withdrew his fingers he saw a spot of blood.
"How did that happen then, Darry?" she asked, suspiciously.
"I think he must have hit me there, but I didn't know it until now," he replied, relieved to feel that he could tell her the whole truth.
"Someone struck you—have you been fighting then?" she asked, a little coldly; for woman-like, Mrs. Peake did not approve of strenuous encounters.
"He said that I would have to leave you, and get out. I couldn't do anything else but defend myself when he came at me. I'm sorry, for I never tried to get in a fight in my life, and I never ran away from one either."