"It's too bad, Joe!"
"Fact!" said Joe seriously; all the rest had been said with a smile; "but you know mother. Come! put on your bonnit and run down and set with her a spell. She's took a notion to have ye; and I know she'll be watchin' till you come."
"Then I must go. I guess I can arrange it, Joe."
"Well, I'll get along, then, where I had ought to be. Mis' Starling cuttin' her hay?"
"Yes, this week and more."
"It's turnin' out a handsome swath; but it had ought to be all down now. Well, good day! Hurry up, now, for down yonder."
Diana brought in her pan of peas.
"Mother, where's Josiah Davis?"
"Where should he be? He's up in the hill lot, cuttin' hay. That grass is all in flower; it had ought to been cut a week ago; but Josiah always has one of his hands behind him."
"And he won't be in till noon. I must harness the waggon myself."