XIII
"SHE'S GOING TO STAY HERE FOREVER"
It was dreadful; and after she had said it, Rachel stood overwhelmed with distress. "Don't you tell your father." She whirled around and clutched Peletiah's sleeve.
"We must," he said; "he's the minister, and we have to tell him everything."
"Well, don't tell your mother, anyway," she begged anxiously.
"We must," said Peletiah again, "because we tell her everything, too."
"Then she'll send me back." Rachel, quite gone in despair, gave a loud cry and threw herself face downward on the grass, where she sobbed as if her heart would break.
This was so much worse than he had imagined, as any possible effect from his words, that Peletiah couldn't speak, but stood over her in silent misery. Seeing this, Ezekiel took matters into his own hands.
"I'm going to run after the funeral and get Ma to come home; she'll be at the top of the procession," and he moved off toward the gateway.
"Stop!" Rachel squealed; then she sprang to her feet. "Don't you stir a step, you!" she commanded.