“You left it in the barn,” said Catherine. “I didn’t think you liked it and I ate some of it. There may be a few pieces left and I’ll send them over to you.”
“Uncle Hiram,” broke in Elizabeth Ann, too worried about Roger and the corncrib to listen to Doris talk about that silly candy—“Uncle Hiram, Catherine says that Roger left the corncrib door open and one of her father’s cows ate corn and died. And Roger says he didn’t leave the door open.”
“Elizabeth Ann thinks I don’t tell the truth, but she is sure Roger does,” Catherine said.
Uncle Hiram looked at both little girls and the frowns smoothed out of their faces.
“That’s better,” he said. “Why, Elizabeth Ann, I’ve heard all about the cow from Mr. Gould and from Mr. Bostwick. They seem to think that Roger has been careless and he’ll have to learn that carelessness costs money. I’m sorry this thing happened—not only did the poor animal suffer, but Roger loses what little free time he has.”
Elizabeth Ann wanted to say that she didn’t think Mr. Gould ought to ask Roger to pay for the cow, but she wasn’t sure Uncle Hiram would like her to say that. So she kept silent.
“Perhaps Roger Calendar will have more sense after this,” said Catherine. “Anyway, I’ll never ask him to another party. I have to go now. My mother told me not to stay too long.”
After she had gone Elizabeth Ann cried. She felt so badly about poor Roger, and she was sorry for Lydia, the dead cow, too. And Doris cried because Catherine had eaten the candy.
“I’m sorry Roger was careless, Elizabeth Ann,” said Uncle Hiram, “but if he was the only thing for him to do is to try to make up for it. He may think he closed that corncrib door, but both Mr. Gould and Mr. Bostwick seem to think he was forgetful; they’re older men and we’ll have to accept their decision.”
Usually Elizabeth Ann and Doris saw Roger on Saturdays—he had a couple of hours to himself in the afternoon, and he liked to come over and talk to them. He was teaching Tony to box, and the white cat liked him. But this Saturday they did not see Roger at all, and it was clear that he had already started to work for Mr. Gould.