Keep your thoughts to yourself."
"I know she allers thought a good deal of you, an'--"
"I don't want another word out of your mouth about it, father."
"Well, I ain't goin' to say nothin' about it if you don't want me to,
Barney; but you know how mother feels, an'-- Well, I ain't goin' to
say no more."
Caleb passed his hand across his forehead, and set off across the
field. Just before he was out of hearing, Barney hailed him.
"Do you feel better'n you did, father?" said he.
"What say, Barney?"
"Do you feel better'n you did this morning?"
"Yes, I feel some better, Barney--some considerable better." Caleb
started to go back to Barney; then he paused and stood irresolute,
smiling towards him. "I feel considerable better," he called again;
"my head ain't nigh so dizzy as 'twas."
"You'd better go home, father, and lay down, and see if you can't get
a nap," called Barney.
"Yes, I guess I will; I guess 'twould be a good plan," returned the
old man, in a pleased voice. And he went on, clambered clumsily over
a stone-wall, disappeared behind some trees, reappeared in the open,
then disappeared finally over the slope of the hilly field.
It was just five o'clock in the afternoon. Presently a woman came
hurrying across the field, with some needle-work gathered up in her
arms. She had been spending the afternoon at a neighbor's with her
sewing, and was now hastening home to get supper for her husband.
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