A second knock, followed by the appearance of a good-looking, well-dressed young man on the threshold, met with the same reception. Tillie, in the background, and hidden by the stove, looked on wonderingly.
The young man glanced, in evident mystification, at the woman by the stove and at the girl at the table, and a third time rapped loudly.
"Good afternoon!" he said pleasantly, an inquiring note in his voice.
Mrs. Hershey and Lizzie went on with their work as though they had not heard him.
He took a step into the room, removing his hat. "You were expecting me this afternoon, weren't you?" he asked.
"This is the place," Lizzie remarked at last.
"You were looking for me?" he repeated.
Mrs. Hershey suddenly turned upon Lizzie. "Why don't you speak?" she inquired half-tauntingly. "You spoke BEFORE."
Tillie realized that Sister Jennie must be referring to Lizzie's readiness at market that morning to "speak," in making her agreement with the young man for board.
"You spoke this morning," the mother repeated. "Why can't you speak now?"