“Don’t, eh? Well, they seem to b’lieve in her the way they keep shinin’ ’round.”
“Yes, but she—”
“Sally, please don’t,” pleaded Alta; “what can we do to help you, Aunt ‘Liza?”
“Jest pitch in brisk. We got to git this cookin’ goin’ lively, or we’ll never be ready fer that bunch o’ fellers that’s comin’ to-night. It flusters me to think about it. You wash this rice and get it cookin’, Sally; and Alta, you skip over to Willis’s and git some eggs; I ain’t found half enough. Tell her to let me hev all she kin spare. I’ll git the pie crust ready while you’re gone. Missus Moffat says she’ll bring her girls over this afternoon and give us a lift. Goodness knows we need it.”
By the time she had finished her speech, Alta was at the corral, bridling Eagle. Leaping on him, she galloped off briskly along the winding trail that lay like a loose flung rope across the meadow. She was glad to be alone for a moment.
“What’s all this feller talk about?” was Aunt ‘Liza’s prying question when Alta had gone.
“Don’t know as I ought to tell,” Sally replied.
“Tell? Well, I guess you orter. Ain’t I that little gal’s protector and confider?”
“Then why ain’t she told you?”
“I dunno. The little puss has been kind o’ sly lately. There’s somethin’ worryin’ her mind and she ain’t so free with me as she was. What’s she been tellin’ you?”