"When I send William Dean to the store he needs all day for the journey, and on two or three occasions it has been late in the evening before he came back."
"It isn't such an awful long walk, but it makes a feller kinder tired, an' I s'pose he had to rest a good while before startin' back. I thought I'd better come the minute the things were ready, 'cause I was afraid you'd do the milkin'."
"Of course I shall. You don't suppose I'd let you work after that terribly long walk."
"But I'm goin' to do the chores jest the same," Jack replied; and to prove his words he carried in the kindlings for morning.
Aunt Nancy was perfectly satisfied with the purchases he made, and until it was time to bring the cow up from pasture she explained her intentions in the way of making clothes for Louis.
"This piece of calico isn't as pretty as some I've had from Treat's," she said, unfolding the goods, "but it seems to be a good quality, and that's the main thing. Now, the question is whether I shall make his frock with a yoke, or plain? What do you think, Jack dear?"
Jack hadn't the faintest idea of what she meant by a "yoke" or a "frock," but, wishing to please the little woman by giving an opinion, he answered decidedly,—
"I should make it plain."
"That was just my idea. How queer it is that you should know all about such things, and have good judgment too!"
Jack came very near smiling because of this praise which he did not deserve, but was wise enough not to make any reply, and Aunt Nancy consulted him on every detail until the garment had been fully decided upon.