“What I say.”
“Ain't she got home yet?”
“No, she ain't.”
“Why, it's half-past one o'clock! She ain't comin'; it's time for school to begin. Look here, Mis' Field, I guess she felt kind of tired, an' thought she wouldn't come.”
Mrs. Field shook her head with a sort of remorselessness toward all comfort. “She's fell down.”
“Oh, Mis' Field! you don't s'pose so?”
“The Starr girl's gone to find out.”
Mrs. Field turned to go.
“Hadn't you better stay here till she comes?” asked Amanda, anxiously.
“No; I must go home.” Suddenly Mrs. Field looked fiercely around. “I'll tell you what 'tis, Mandy Pratt, an' you mark my words! I ain't goin' to stan' this kind of work much longer! I ain't goin' to see all the child I've got in the world murdered; for that's what it is—it's murder!”