“Where are your folks!”
“Dead,” was the brief reply.
“Now that’s too bad! You so young, and with three youngsters to keep. Dear! Dear!”
Desiré returned just in time to hear the last remarks, and her face twitched so in her efforts to control it that Jack himself had to bury his head in the depths of the wagon while he looked for the cracker boxes.
“Come up to the house with me when this young man carries my things in,” she said to Desiré, taking her by the arm. As if she were indeed a child, she led her along the path to the doorstep.
“Set here,” she directed; and disappeared into the house.
“Ready?” asked Jack, when he came out.
“I don’t know. I was told to ‘set here’; and here I ‘set,’” whispered Desiré.
At that moment the woman returned with a pasteboard box which she thrust into Desiré’s hands.
“Here’s a few cookies for your dinner. They always taste good to children, I guess.”