“Yes, ma’am.”
“And you saw no one about the house at that time, Vendla?”
“No, ma’am. Master Jimmy had just gone out. I heard his papa ask, ‘Where are you going?’ And Master Jimmy answered, ‘To Gilly Irwin’s.’ That was just as I stood locking the back door. And after that Mr. Dunlee came into the front hall, and I heard him hasp the screen door. I’m sure I did, ma’am.”
“And then you went up-stairs again, Vendla? And you didn’t go into the pantry?”
“No, ma’am; I went straight up-stairs. I was in a hurry to finish my blouse waist.”
“And you heard no one going or coming?”
“No, ma’am. Only once I heard John’s step; he was looking after the cow.”
“That will do, Vendla; I don’t know what to think about this!”
As Vendla left the dining-room, Kyzie looked up quickly, exclaiming, “O mamma, don’t look so! I can’t believe it was Jimmy!”
“Neither can I,” said Aunt Vi, forgetting to eat her bread and butter.