"Yes?"
"Oh, I don't know! I declare I don't."
"Suppose he tells me he means to marry her in spite of everything? Suppose he won't listen to me at all?"
That possibility had been in Jed's mind from the beginning, but he refused to consider it.
"He will listen," he declared, stoutly. "He always has, hasn't he?"
"Yes, yes, I suppose he has. He listened to me when I persuaded him that coming here and hiding all—all that happened was the right thing to do. And now see what has come of it! And it is all my fault. Oh, I have been so selfish!"
"Sshh! sshh! You ain't; you couldn't be if you tried. And, besides, I was as much to blame as you. I agreed that 'twas the best thing to do."
"Oh," reproachfully, "how can you say that? You know you were opposed to it always. You only say it because you think it will comfort me. It isn't true."
"Eh? Now—now, don't talk so. Please don't. If you keep on talkin' that way I'll do somethin' desperate, start to make a johnny cake out of sawdust, same as I did yesterday mornin', or somethin' else crazy."
"Jed!"