“Where is your mother? Why don't she come in here?” Mrs. Babcock asked excitedly of Lois returning from the bedroom.
“She's gone berrying,” replied Lois, feebly. She sank into a chair.
“Gone berryin'!” screamed Mrs. Babcock, and the other women echoed her.
“Yes'm.”
“When did she go?”
“Right after dinner.”
“Right after dinner, an' she ain't got home yet! Out in this awful tempest! Well, she'll be killed. You'll never see her again, that's all. A berry pasture is the most dangerous place in creation in a thunder-shower. Out berryin' in all this hail an' thunder an' lightnin'!”
Mrs. Green pressed close up to Lois. “Ain't you any idea where she's gone?” said she. “If you have, I'll jest slip off my dress skirt, an' you give me an old shawl, an' I'll go with you an' see if we can't find her.”
“I'll go, too,” cried Amanda. “Don't you know which way they went, Lois?”
Just then the south side-door slammed sharply.