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III. Mr. Harrison at Home
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“Blessmysoul,”exclaimedMr.Harrison,inblankamazementatthisunlooked-forconclusion.“WhataVERYextraordinarything!”
“Oh,itisn’tintheleastextraordinarythatIshouldbegettingmyselfandotherpeopleintoscrapes,”saidAnnemournfully.“I’mnotedforthat.YoumightsupposeI’dhavegrownoutofitbythistime...I’llbeseventeennextMarch...butitseemsthatIhaven’t.Mr.Harrison,isittoomuchtohopethatyou’llforgiveme?I’mafraidit’stoolatetogetyourcowback,buthereisthemoneyforher...oryoucanhavemineinexchangeifyou’drather.She’saverygoodcow.AndIcan’texpresshowsorryIamforitall.”
“Tut,tut,”saidMr.Harrisonbriskly,“don’tsayanotherwordaboutit,miss.It’sofnoconsequence...noconsequencewhatever.Accidentswillhappen.I’mtoohastymyselfsometimes,miss...fartoohasty.ButIcan’thelpspeakingoutjustwhatIthinkandfolksmusttakemeastheyfindme.Ifthatcowhadbeeninmycabbagesnow...butnevermind,shewasn’t,soit’sallright.IthinkI’dratherhaveyourcowinexchange,sinceyouwanttoberidofher.”
“Oh,thankyou,Mr.Harrison.I’msogladyouarenotvexed.Iwasafraidyouwouldbe.”
“AndIsupposeyouwerescaredtodeathtocomehereandtellme,afterthefussImadeyesterday,hey?Butyoumustn’tmindme,I’materribleoutspokenoldfellow,that’sall...awfulapttotellthetruth,nomatterifitisabitplain.”
“SoisMrs.Lynde,”saidAnne,beforeshecouldpreventherself.
“Who?Mrs.
