The windows were open. All at once a dark shadow appeared at
one of them. The women started--all but Grandmother Lamb. She was asleep
in her chair.
"Who's there?" Aunt Susy asked, in a grave tone.
"Have you seen anything of Hannah Maria?" said a hoarse voice. Then they
knew it was Mr. Green.
Mrs. Lamb and the aunts pressed close to the window.
"No, we haven't," replied Mrs. Lamb. "Why, what's the matter?"
"We can't find her anywheres. Mother went over to Lawrence this
afternoon, and I was down in the east field hayin'. Mother, she got home
first, and Hannah Maria wasn't anywhere about the house, an' she'd kind
of an idea she'd gone over to the Bennets'; she'd been talkin' about
goin' there to get a tidy-pattern of the Bennet girl, so she waited till
I got home. I jest put the horse in again, an' drove over there, but
she's not been there. I don't know where she is. Mother's most crazy."
"Where is she?" they cried, all altogether.
"Sittin' out in the road, in the buggy."
Mrs. Lamb and the aunts hurried out. They and Mr. Green stood beside the
buggy, and Mrs. Green thrust her anxious face out.
"Oh, where do you suppose she is?" she groaned.
"Now, do keep calm, Mrs. Green," said Mrs. Lamb, in an agitated voice.
"We've got something to tell you. Mehitable was over there this
afternoon."
"Oh, she wasn't, was she?"
"Yes, she was. She went about four o'clock, and she stayed an hour and a
half.
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