“Oh, shucks,” said Christopher, squirming with embarrassment. “Has Juno got any new pups?”
“Well, you have growed, ’pon my word. Now I leave it to Miss Jane if you haven’t. Hain’t you, Miss Jane? And you’re both of you dressed different now, so ’t I can tell ye apart,” he added teasingly.
Of course Joshua had seen the children many times since the day Christopher had been promoted to trousers, but he never lost a chance of reminding the boy that he had passed through a petticoat period.
Perk felt a little bit out of this intimate party. He stood awkwardly in the background, fingering his hat and winking gravely at Christopher whenever he caught his eye. Grandfather bustled up presently, followed by the station agent wheeling the trunks on a truck, which Perk proceeded to pile on the wagon. Joshua untied the team and mounted to the front seat of the big carriage.
“Where’s Nelly Gray?” asked Jane, missing the gray mare with the white star on her forehead.
“Why, Nelly, she’s out to pastur’ for a while. Got a nail in her foot.”
“Oh, poor horsey! How it must have hurt! Did you get it out?”
“Why of course, greeney,” interposed Christopher knowingly, “else the horse would have died, wouldn’t it, Josh?”
Jane climbed into the carriage and sat down opposite her grandparents, but Christopher hung back.
“I want to go on the wagon. Mayn’t I, please?”