"And you mustn't ask Mother to send her back," said Peletiah stubbornly.
"She ain't going to shake me." It was now so low that scarcely any one
could hear it.
"And you mustn't ask Mother to send her back," said Peletiah again. "She's
going to stay here just for ever and ever."
There was something in his tone that made Ezekiel hasten to say:
"Oh, I won't."
"And I won't shake you," said Rachel, flying out from behind her hands and
up to him, "if you'll only let me stay here; just let me stay," she cried,
hungrily.
"Well," said Ezekiel, with a great deal of condescension, "if you won't
shake me, you may stay at our house."
So the children went back to the flat door-stone to talk it over, Peletiah
saying:
"Maybe you can go to school with us next fall."
"Oh, my!" exclaimed Rachel, with wide eyes, and clasping her hands, "I've
got to learn a lot first."
"Yes, my father's got to teach you first," said Peletiah.
"Where's he going to do it?" Rachel leaned over to get a comprehensive view
of his face.
"In his study," answered Peletiah.
"Where's that?"
"That's where he writes his sermons in, that he preaches at people
Sundays," said Ezekiel, finding it very pleasant to be communicative, now
that he was quite sure the new girl would not shake him.
"Oh, how nice!" breathed Rachel. "That's scrumptious!"
"That's what?" asked Peletiah critically.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168