Mrs. Gormley flushed rather oddly and glanced at the child with suspicion. But little Carolyn May was perfectly frank and ingenuous.
“Humph!” ejaculated Chet’s mother. “He never says nothing about bein’ in love with Mandy, does he? They was goin’ with each other steady once.”
The little girl looked puzzled.
“When folks love each other they look at each other and talk to each other, don’t they?” she asked.
“Well—yes—generally,” admitted Mrs. Gormley.
“Then my Uncle Joe and Miss Amanda Parlow aren’t in love,” announced Carolyn May with confidence, “for they don’t even look at each other.”
“They used to. Why, Joseph Stagg and Mandy Parlow was sweethearts years and years ago! Long before your mother left these parts, child.”
“That was a long time ’fore I was borned,” said the little girl wonderingly.
“Oh, yes. Everybody that went to The Corners’ church thought they’d be married.”
“My Uncle Joe and Miss Mandy?”