I knew you wouldn't be
worried about her, for she said the little Lamb girl knew where she'd
gone, and--"
Mrs. Green jerked the wagon door open and pulled Hannah Maria out. "Go
right into the house!" she said, in a stern voice. "Here she wouldn't
tell where you'd gone. And the whole town hunting! Go in."
Hannah Maria's face changed from uneasy and deprecating smiles to the
certainty of grief. "Oh, I made her promise not to tell, but I s'posed
she would," she sobbed. "I didn't know 'twas going to be so far. Oh,
mother, I'm sorry!"
"Go right in," said her mother.
And Hannah Maria went in. Aunt Susy and Mrs. Lamb pushed past her as she
entered. They were flying home to make amends to Mehitable, with kind
words and kisses, and to take away the taste of the thoroughwort tea
with sponge-cake and some of the best strawberry jam.
Later in the forenoon Mehitable, with the row of smooth water-curls
round her head, dressed in her clean pink calico, sat on the door-step
with her doll. Her face was as smiling as the china one. Hannah Maria
came slowly into the yard. She carried a basket of early apples. Her
eyes were red. "Here are some apples for you," she said. "And I'm sorry
I made you so much trouble. I'm not going to eat any."
"Thank you," said Mehitable. "Did your mother scold?" she inquired,
timidly.
"She did first. I'm dreadful sorry. I won't ever do so again.
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