"Yes," she replied. "Our month here ends to-day.
Of course you knew that."
Jed sighed miserably. "Yes, ma'am," he said, "I knew it, but I
only just realized it, as you might say. I . . . Hum! . . .
Well . . ."
He turned away and walked slowly toward the kitchen door. Barbara
would have followed but her mother laid a detaining hand upon her
shoulder. On the threshold of the door between the dining-room and
kitchen Jed paused.
"Ma'am," he said, hesitatingly, "you--you don't cal'late there's
anything I can do to--to help, is there? Anything in the packin'
or movin' or anything like that?"
"No, thank you, Mr. Winslow. The packing was very simple."
"Er--yes, ma'am. . . . Yes, ma'am."
He stopped, seemed about to speak again, but evidently changed his
mind, for he opened the door and went out into the rain without
another word. Barbara, very much surprised and hurt, looked up
into her mother's face.
"Why, Mamma," she cried, "has--has he GONE? He didn't say good-by
to us or--or anything. He didn't even say he was sorry we were
going."
Mrs. Armstrong shook her head.
"I imagine that is because he isn't sorry, my dear," she replied.
"You must remember that Mr. Winslow didn't really wish to let any
one live in this house. We only came here by--well, by accident."
But Barbara was unconvinced.
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