“Where is Kit?” was Mrs. Hartwell-Jones’s first question, echoed by Letty.
Grandmother explained that he had gone for the mail and would be back directly. Then she sat down beside Mrs. Hartwell-Jones and discussed the question of boys in general and Kit in particular, while Letty told the story of “Thistledown” over again for Anna Parsons’ benefit, the children taking frequent peeps at Mrs. Hartwell-Jones in the meantime and wondering how she could have thought it all out. After which she told parts of “Prince Pietro,” a story she and her little neighbor Emma Haines had been very fond of, and she wondered if Mrs. Hartwell-Jones had written that, too.
In the meanwhile Christopher drove merrily on with Joshua to the post-office, at the other end of the village, his tongue wagging at its usual nimble rate. As they reached the post-office he gave a sudden shrill whistle that made Joshua put his hand over the ear nearest to Christopher’s mouth.
“For the land’s sake!” he exclaimed. “Do you want to make me plumb deaf, boy?”
An answering whistle, followed by a whoop, sounded from inside the building and Billy Carpenter darted out.
“Hi, Bill, bring the mail with you,” called Joshua. “Here you, Kit, you go in and get it, and get Mrs. Hartwell-Jones’s too. You might as well take hers to her, as you’re going right back there.”
“Not right back,” objected Christopher, scrambling down over the front wheel.
“Yes, right back,” repeated Joshua sternly, as the horses started to go on. “Mind you go directly back to your grandma and the girls,” he called over his shoulder, right into the listening ear of Billy Carpenter.
“Huh!” jeered that youth, “here comes the boy that’s tied to a girl’s apron-strings! Howdy, Miss Kitty.”
Christopher was ready to cry with mortification, but his pride held him steady.