“Well, Jerry,” she said gently, “if your neighbors think that of you, I’m sure they are as much mistaken as you are in what you think of them.” She counted out the change into his hand. “This is Thursday, isn’t it? Can you bring us some more fish Saturday?”
“Yes, I’ll bring ’em,” said the boy in a more subdued fashion than he had yet spoken. He dropped his earnings into his pocket uncounted, and went away without a good-by. Peggy carried the fish indoors, and was greeted by mocking laughter.
“You’ve added one tramp to the establishment,” said Priscilla, shaking a warning finger in her friend’s absorbed face; “don’t try to annex another.”
Peggy was too much in earnest to notice the banter. “That poor boy! He thinks he hates everybody, and I guess the trouble is that he wants to be liked. I’m going to ask Mrs. Cole or some other nice, motherly person about him.” Then her eyes fell upon the clock and she uttered an exclamation of dismay.
“Girls, where does the time go to? I meant to suggest that we go berrying this morning, but now we’ve got to wait till after dinner. I hope there are no naps to be taken this afternoon. I’m going berrying if I have to go alone.”
“You can count on me, darling,” Amy cried, flinging her arms about Peggy’s neck. And Dorothy chimed in bravely, “An’ you can count on me, Aunt Peggy. But–but what are you going to bury?”
While Peggy was explaining, Claire laid her hand on Priscilla’s arm, and looked tenderly into her eyes.
“We’re going for a walk, you know. You promised last evening.”
Priscilla looked up in surprise.
“Why, I know I said we’d take a walk. But this will be a walk and a lot of fun beside.”