"Humph!" she said.




CHAPTER XVI

AN ELABORATION OF ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST SUCCINCT CHAPTERS

Everychild's companions drew back behind the shelter of a convenient
bush. The Old Woman's countenance really did seem, for the moment,
quite ferocious. But Everychild did not move.

The Old Woman arose still higher and stepped out of the top of the shoe
to the top rung of the ladder. She carried a steaming pot in one hand,
and thus handicapped she descended the ladder.

She placed the steaming pot on the table and then turned her attention
to Everychild. She exclaimed dubiously: "You're not one o' mine!"

He shook his head. "No, ma'am," he replied.

She sat down deliberately, drawing a long breath, but without taking
her eyes from Everychild. "Just an idler," she said, "like all the
rest of the young ones. I don't know what's the matter with them these
days--children. When I was young I had to work. I expected nothing
less. And I tell mine what was good enough for me is good enough for
them."