“Mother’s in here,” she said, leading the way into the living room. Mrs. Craig stopped playing and looked up. “Mother,” Kit said. “Mr. McRae’s come from Saskatoon.”
“Just as if he’d stepped over the whole distance in about seven strides,” Doris said later, after Mr. McRae had been settled in the guest chamber, and the family could discuss him safely. “I think he’s awfully nice-looking, don’t you, Jean?”
“I can’t think about his looks, Doris,” Jean replied blushingly. “All I can do is wonder what he has come after. Does he want the house and farm? Or has his conscience troubled him so much about Sally and her mother and Buzzy that he’s going to lay Woodhow on their front doorstep in restitution? Or did he just want to see what we all looked like?”
“Ask him,” suggested Kit blandly. “He seems to be a very approachable young man so far as I can see.”
“He wanted to go up to Rebecca’s for the night and Mother wouldn’t let him. That shows that she likes him.”
The next day Mr. Craig sat out in a big chair on the porch with their guest, and seemed to enjoy his company wonderfully.
“I do believe, Mom,” Jean said, “that poor Dad has been smothered with too much coddling. Just look at him brace up and talk to Mr. McRae.”
“I hope we can persuade him to stay with us while he is in Elmhurst.”
“He doesn’t act as if he needed much persuading. They’ve discovered that they were both in the Army and are comparing the Canadian Army with ours. They’ve already discussed salmon culture and whether a soy bean crop will do well in Connecticut. We girls think it’s unfair of Dad to monopolize such a charming guy.”
“Jeannie, you’d better come and help me put up our lunch,” called Doris from the kitchen. “Bacon and eggs are going to be the main course, with gingerbread and fruit for dessert.”