99CHAPTER VII
Revelations
The next morning was a trying one for them both. Jim felt dully that something was the matter, but the girl’s manner baffled him, and he could not make up his mind as to whether she had glanced in the note-book or not. It did not seem like her to do so deliberately, but if she had he could only make things worse by broaching the subject, since he was not at the moment in a position to explain.
As for Lou, she was trying her best to appear her old self with him, but dissimulation was an art in which she was as yet unversed, and her whole nature rebelled against playing a part. Only her pride kept her from betraying her disappointment in him and running away. She told herself fiercely that he 100didn’t care what she thought of him; they were only partners met by chance on the road, and perhaps never to see each other again after the city was reached.
If he had lied to her about his name that was his own business, and she would not admit even to herself that this deception was not the only reason for the strange, hurt feeling about her heart.
She rose at dawn, and, creeping down from the clean little room which Mrs. Bemis had given her, she had the stove going and breakfast on the table by the time the little family was awake, and Jim appeared from the barn, where he had slept in the loft.
While he worked in the field during the early morning hours, she finished the ironing, and by ten o’clock they were ready once more to start upon their way.
Mrs. Bemis insisted upon paying them both for their work, but it was only out of consideration for her pride that Jim would accept fifty cents of the two dollars she offered him.
“I only work for a quarter a time,” he told 101her gravely. “One for yesterday and one for this morning; my sister can tell you that. I–I would like to write to you if I may when we reach home, Mrs. Bemis. Will you tell me what address will find you? You see, I want to thank you properly for all your kindness to us, and I don’t know whether this is the township of Riverburgh or not.”
“It’s the Stilton post-office,” the little woman stammered. “Of course, I’d like to hear from both of you, but you mustn’t thank me! I don’t know what I should have done without your help with the hay! And your sister, too; I do hope you both find work where you’re going.”
To Lou’s amazement Jim produced the little red note-book and wrote the address carefully in it, adding what appeared to be some figures at one side. Then he thanked their good Samaritan and they took their leave.