Of course he did not express these thoughts aloud, in fact he
expressed nothing whatever. He thought and thought and, after a
time, gradually became aware that there was absolute silence in the
shop. He looked at his caller and found that she was regarding him
intently, a twinkle in her eye and an amused expression about her
mouth. He started and awoke from his day-dream.
"Eh?" he exclaimed. "Yes--yes, I guess so."
She shook her head.
"You do?" she said. "Why, I thought your opinion was exactly the
opposite."
"Eh? Oh, yes, so 'tis, so 'tis."
"Of course. And just what did you say about it?"
Jed was confused. He swallowed hard, hesitated, swallowed again
and stammered: "I-- Why, I--that is--you see--"
She laughed merrily. "You are a very poor pretender, Jed," she
declared. "Confess, you haven't the least idea what opinion I
mean."
"Well--well, to be right down honest, I--I don't know's I have,
Mrs. Ruth."
"Of course, you haven't. There isn't any opinion. You have been
sitting there for the last five minutes, staring straight at me and
picking that paint brush to pieces. I doubt if you even knew I was
here."
"Eh? Oh, yes, I know that, I know that all right. Tut! tut!"
inspecting the damaged brush. "That's a nice mess, ain't it? Now
what do you suppose I did that for? I'm scared to death, when I
have one of those go-to-sleeptic fits, that I'll pick my head to
pieces.
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