She was shaping the necessary patch, when the sound of wheels coming into the yard told her that the person so long waited for had arrived.
"That you?" said she, opening the kitchen-door and looking out into the darkness.
"Yes," replied a man's voice.
"Ye want the lantern?"
"No: jest set the lamp in the winder, and I guess I can git along. Whoa!" And the man jumped to the ground.
"Had good luck?" the woman inquired in a low voice.
"I'll tell ye when I come in," was the evasive answer.
"Has he bought me a drum?" bawled Taddy from the chamber-stairs.
"Do you want me to come up there and 'tend to ye?" demanded Mrs. Ducklow.
The boy was not particularly ambitious of enjoying that honor.