"I am, Jack," she said, and she did not answer his smile.
"What about? Your mother isn't ill; is she? You haven't lost any registered letters?"
"No, it isn't that, but a post office inspector has been here, asking me a lot of questions. He intimated that things weren't being done right, and he's coming back in an hour to check up my accounts."
"Well, I suppose they have to do what they're hired for. Was he mean or ugly?"
"No, but he seemed terribly in earnest. And suppose my accounts aren't exactly right? I may have made little mistakes. Then he'll report me and I'll lose my office. Oh, Jack, I couldn't bear that!"
"Don't worry," Jack soothed her. "I'll stay and have a talk with this inspector. Maybe I can help straighten matters out, if they're a bit wrong. You say he is coming back in an hour?"
"Yes, and the time is nearly up. There he is now."
Jack looked out, and a strange feeling came over him as he saw a large man, on an unusually high horse riding up to the post office.
"Is he the inspector?" asked the pony rider.
"Yes," Jennie answered.