Then Jason stopped and shut his mouth and held it stiff and tense, and by sheer will power, he kept back the impending tears. A slow red had crept into his cheeks and there was colour in his lips. Mahala was hurt intensely. Without a thought for anything, she crowded close to Jason. She laid her hands on his sleeve.
Across the grocery Peter Potter had been watching them intently. The street was full of people. Two women were heading toward his door. He walked back and placed his body between Mahala and Jason and the line of the door. He laid one arm across Jason’s shoulder and then he said to Mahala casually: “Now you had better step along to school, little lady. Jason’s a good boy. I’m goin’ to fix him a room above the grocery where he can study his books and keep up with his lessons at night. I’d be deeply obliged, and so would he, if you could manage to run in once a week and tell him how far his class has gone with the lessons.”
Instantly Mahala stepped back. She would not venture another look at Jason, but she met the eyes of Peter frankly, while in her most gracious manner she held out her hand.
“Thank you very much, Peter,” she said, “I think it’s splendid of you to help Jason, because you and I know that when he is the smartest boy in the class, he shouldn’t be forced to quit school.”
She turned and started from the grocery. Half way down the aisle, and directly facing the women who were entering, she wheeled, with a graceful gesture of remembrance.
“Peter,” she called in her clear voice, “Mother says that she hasn’t had a bite of such delicious ham between her teeth in two or three years as those last ones you got from the country. She wants you to save another one for us.”
Then she smiled on both the advancing women. “Good morning, Mrs. Sims. Good morning, Mrs. Jordan,” she said in her very best manner. “I was telling Peter to save another one of his delicious hams for us. You really should try them.”
Then Mahala went on her way to school, and she failed in her lessons all day because her mind was not on her work. She longed to ask her mother several important questions, but dared not on account of the bird and Junior’s injury. She was afraid to ask the questions to which she wanted answers of Mrs. Williams, for fear she would mention to Mahala’s mother what she had been asked. She dared not tell that Jason had been forced from school, lest he be connected in the minds of her parents with Junior. For many days she carried a head full of disquieting thought, a heart of aching protest.
Mrs. Sims bought one ham, Mrs. Jordan bought two. After they had gone, Peter Potter planted himself in front of Jason and shook his head sadly. Then he said: “Now look here, my lad, don’t you get any silly notions into your noddle. You’ve got to understand that the richest and the prettiest girl in this town ain’t in any way connected with you. She’s sorry for you, same as I am, because she knows you ain’t gettin’ a square deal.”
Jason answered quietly: “I know, Peter. You needn’t worry.”