Sally jerked down her apron and gazed at him with eyes that were fierce through their tears.
“You did ought to be ashamed o’ yourself,” she cried brokenly.
Jarge looked down at her ruefully and drew a long breath.
“Well,” he said, “I d’ ’low I be!”
* * *
He repeated this statement on the following morning when he presented himself to Farmer Ellery, humbly petitioning that his fault might be overlooked, and promising to work an hour or two “extry” every day to make up for the time which had been lost.
“For I shouldn’t like my missus to come out a-workin’ any more,” he explained.
The farmer looked at him sharply, grunted, and finally agreed.
“I’ll give you another chance,” he said, “but I don’t know how long you’ll keep straight.”
“I be a-goin’ for to turn over a new leaf,” said Jarge firmly, and to everyone’s surprise he actually did.