Probably he
did not notice even this until later. However, he took her hand,
moved it up and down, dropped it again and said: "I--I'm pleased to
meet you, ma'am."
She smiled. "And I am very glad to meet you," she said. "It was
very kind of you to bring my little girl home last night and she
and I have come to thank you for doing it."
Jed was more embarrassed than ever.
"Sho, sho!" he protested; "'twasn't anything."
"Oh, yes, it was; it was a great deal. I was getting very worried,
almost frightened. She had been gone ever since luncheon--dinner,
I mean--and I had no idea where. She's a pretty good little girl,
generally speaking," drawing the child close and smiling down upon
her, "but sometimes she is heedless and forgets. Yesterday she
forgot, didn't you, dear?"
Barbara shook her head.
"I didn't forget," she said. "I mean I only forgot a little.
Petunia forgot almost EVERYTHING. I forgot and went as far as the
bridge, but she forgot all the way to the clam field."
Jed rubbed his chin.
"The which field?" he drawled.
"The clam field. The place where Mrs. Smalley's fish man unplants
the clams she makes the chowder of. He does it with a sort of hoe
thing and puts them in a pail. He was doing it yesterday; I saw
him."
Jed's eyes twinkled at the word "unplants," but another thought
occurred to him.
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