In and out of the crowd Miss Parrott’s coachman worked his way, with the big lunch-basket.
“I thought you would like to have it now,” he said. And he didn’t forget to touch his hat to Mrs. Pepper.
“I think it is time,” said Mrs. Pepper, “for I believe everybody is hungry,” with a smile that included the little old woman next to Joel.
“I’ll show you a place where you can sit and eat, and not have many people around,” said Simmons, going off with the big basket, and all the Peppers hurried down from their seats to follow. But not before Mrs. Pepper took hold of Joel’s little calico sleeve. “Help her down, Joey,” she said, nodding her head toward the little old woman.
“I want to go with Dave,” grumbled Joel.
“Help her down, Joel,” said Mother Pepper distinctly.
“And I’ll help her, too,” cried Davie, turning back.
“So you shall,” Mrs. Pepper beamed at him, so that he forgot for the first time how he had made them all ashamed.
And Joel on one side and Davie on the other, made the little old woman say when she was safely down from her seat on the middle row, “My sakes, I never had no gret likin’ for boys before. What’s your name, anyhow?”
Joel, who was frantic to hurry along, as the others and Miss Parrott’s coachman were well ahead, had no time to answer questions. So Davie said, “He’s Joel Pepper, and I—”