Timothy's paleness, whatever the cause, had disappeared for the moment,
and his eyes shone like stars.
"Oh, Miss Vilda!" he cried breathlessly; "dear Miss Vilda and Samanthy,
the gray hen did want to have chickens, and that is what made her so
cross, and she is setting, and we've found her nest in the alder bushes
by the pond!"
("G'ay hen's net in er buttes by er pond," sung Gay, like a Greek
chorus.)
"And we sat down softly beside the pond, but Gay sat into it."
("Gay sat wite into it, an' dolly dot her dess wet, but Gay nite ittle
dirl; Gay didn't det wet!")
"And by and by the gray hen got off to get a drink of water"--
("To det a dink o' water"--)
"And we counted the eggs, and there were thirteen big ones!"
("Fir-teen drate bid ones!")
"So that the darling thing had to s-w-ell out to cover them up!"
("Darlin' fin ser-welled out an' tuvvered 'em up!") said Gay, going
through the same operation.
"Yes," said Miss Vilda, looking covertly at Mr. Southwick (who had an
eye for beauty, notwithstanding Samantha's strictures), "that's very
nice, but you mustn't stay here now; we are talkin' to the minister. Run
away, both of you, and let the settin' hen alone.--Well, as I was goin'
to say, Mr. Southwick, you're very kind and so 's your wife, and I'm
sure Timothy, that's the boy's name, would be a great help and comfort
to both of you, if you're fond of children, and we should be glad to
have him near by, for we feel kind of responsible for him, though he's
no relation of ours.
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