If by chance she had to pass his house, she would hurry by at her utmost speed lest she be intercepted. She got out of his way as fast as she could if she spied his old horse and chaise in the distance. Still she knew the day would come; and it did.
It was one Saturday afternoon; school did not keep, and she was all alone in the house with Martha. Her mother had gone visiting. The two little girls were playing "Holly Gull, Passed how many," with beans in the kitchen, when the door opened, and in walked Susan Elder. She was a woman who lived at Squire Bean's and helped his wife with the housework.
The minute Patience saw her, she knew what her errand was. She gave a great start. Then she looked at Susan Elder with her big frightened eyes.
Susan Elder was a stout old woman. She sat down on the settle, and wheezed before she spoke. "Squire Bean wants you to come up to his house right away," said she at last.
Patience trembled all over. "My mother is gone away. I don't know as she would want me to go," she ventured despairingly.
"He wants you to come right away," said Susan.
"I don't believe mother'd want me to leave the house alone."
"I'll stay an' rest till you git back; I'd jest as soon. I'm all tuckered out comin' up the hill."
Patience was very pale. She cast an agonized glance at Martha. "I spent the Squire's sixpence for those peppermints," she whispered. She had not told her before.
Martha looked at her in horror—then she begun to cry. "Oh! I made you do it," she sobbed.