"Where are you, Jack?" the little woman called softly when the horse had drawn the wagon and its occupants on to the highway.
"What is the matter?" Jack cried, as on emerging from his place of retreat he saw a look of deepest anxiety on Aunt Nancy's face. "Did they come here to take us away?"
"It's not quite as bad as that," the little woman replied with a long-drawn sigh, "but very nearly. What do you suppose they wanted?"
Jack didn't even attempt to hazard a guess, and Aunt Nancy continued in a mournful tone,—
"They want to hold the monthly sewing circle here day after to-morrow!"
"Well?" Jack asked, surprised that such a request should have caused so much distress.
"Well? Why, Jack, how can you treat it so lightly? Just think of it! Only one day to clean house, go to the store, and do all the cooking!"
"I don't see that there'll be very much to do in the way of cleaning house. It shines like a new three-cent piece already, and how are you goin' to make it look any better?"
"O Jack! boys don't understand about such things. You can't see in the corners where the dirt always lodges, and the company will be sure to find everything that is slighted."
"Well, I can go to the store for you at least."