"ole Hon," the portly old woman whom Hale
remembered, with brass-rimmed spectacles and a clay pipe in her
mouth, came out on the porch and welcomed them heartily under the
honeysuckle vines. Her mouth and face were alive with humour when
she saw Hale, and her eyes took in both him and the little girl
keenly. The miller and Hale leaned chairs against the wall while
the girl sat at the entrance of the porch. Suddenly Hale went out
to his horse and took out a package from his saddle-pockets.
"I've got some candy in here for you," he said smiling.
"I don't want no candy," she said, still not looking at him and
with a little movement of her knees away from him.
"Why, honey," said Uncle Billy again, "whut IS the matter with ye?
I thought ye was great friends." The little girl rose hastily.
"No, we ain't, nuther," she said, and she whisked herself indoors.
Hale put the package back with some embarrassment and the old
miller laughed.
"Well, well--she's a quar little critter; mebbe she's mad because
you stayed away so long."
At the table June wanted to help ole Hon and wait to eat with her,
but Uncle Billy made her sit down with him and Hale, and so shy
was she that she hardly ate anything.
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