“I’d like to know who told you they’d be happy?” he demanded crossly.
“Why! wouldn’t they be? If they truly love each other and could get over being mad?”
“Humph!” growled Mr. Parlow, “you let their ‘mad’ alone. ’Tain’t none of your business.” Mr. Parlow was really all ruffled up, just as though he were angry at Carolyn May’s suggestion. “I don’t know as anybody’s pertic’lar anxious to see that daughter of mine and Joe Stagg friendly again. No good would come of it.”
Carolyn May looked at him sorrowfully. Mr. Parlow had quite disappointed her. It was plain to be seen that he was not the right one to advise with about the matter. The little girl sighed.
“I really did s’pose you’d want to see Miss Amanda happy, Mr. Parlow,” she whispered.
“Happy? Bah!” snarled the old man, setting vigorously to work again. He acted as if he wished to say no more, and let the little girl depart without another word.
Carolyn May really could not understand it—at least, she could not immediately. It seemed the most natural thing in the world for Mr. Parlow to wish to see his daughter happy and content.
And the little girl knew that Miss Amanda was not happy. As she became better and better acquainted with the woman whom she thought so beautiful she was more and more convinced that the carpenter’s daughter was not of a cheerful spirit.
Mr. Jedidiah Parlow did not seem to care in the least. That must be, Carolyn May told herself, because he was under the influence of the Dark Spirit himself. He was always looking down. Like Mr. Stagg, the old carpenter was immersed in his daily tasks and seldom thought of anything else.
“Why, he doesn’t even know what it means to be happy!” thought Carolyn May. “He never looks up, or out, or away from his carpenter’s bench. Dear me! of course he isn’t interested in Uncle Joe and Miss Amanda’s being in love.”