"And will Jeph come back?"

But that he could tell as little, and indeed someone else spoke to
him, and he paid the child no more attention.

Rusha had had a merry day among the children of her own age in the
village; she fretted at coming away, and was frightened at turning
into so lonely a path through the hazel stems, trotting after
Patience because she was afraid to turn back alone, but making a low,
peevish moan all the time.

***Stead stirring the porridge.

Patience hoped she would be comforted when they came out on their
little glade, and she saw Stead stirring the milk porridge over the
fire he had lighted by the house. For he had found the flint and
steel belonging to the matchlock of his father's old gun, and there
was plenty of dry leaves and half-burnt wood to serve as tinder. The
fire for cooking would be outside, whenever warmth and weather
served, to prevent indoor smoke. And to Patience's eyes it really
looked pleasant and comfortable, with Toby sitting wisely by his
young master's side, and the cat comfortably perched at the door, and
Whitefoot tied to a tree, and the cows in their new abode. But
Jerusha was tired and cross, she said it was an ugly place, and she
was afraid of the foxes and the polecats, she wanted to go home, she
wanted to go back to Goody Grace.

Stead grew angry, and threatened that she should have no supper, and
that made her cry the louder, and shake her frock at him; but
Patience, who knew better how to deal with her, let her finish her