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 nuts was between her and Cousin Jimmy. She very hungry.

“Ruth give you enough to eat?” queried Cousin Jimmy anxiously.

“Oh, yes. Aunt Ruth keeps up one New Moon tradish at least. She has a good table. But there are no snacks.”

“And you always liked a tasty bite at bed-time, didn’t you? But you took a box back last time you were home?”

“Aunt Ruth confiscated it. That is, she put it in the pantry and served its contents up at meal times. These doughnuts good. And there is always something exciting and lawless about eating at unearthly hours like this, isn’t there? How did you happen to be up, Cousin Jimmy?”

“A sick cow. Thought I’d better sit up and look after her.”

“It was lucky for me you were. Oh, I’m in my proper senses again, Cousin Jimmy. Of course, I know you think I’ve been a little fool.”

“Everybody’s a fool in some particular,” said Cousin Jimmy.

“Well, I’ll go back and bite the sour apple without a grimace.”

“Lie down on the sofa and have a nap. I'll hitch up the grey mare and drive you back as soon as it begins to be daylight.”

“No, that won’t do at all. Several reasons. In the first place, the roads aren’t fit for wheels or runners. In the second place we couldn’t drive away from here without Aunt Elizabeth hearing us, and then she’d find out all about it and I don’t want her to. We'll keep my foolishness a dark and deadly secret between you and me, Cousin Jimmy.”

“Then how are you going to get back to Shrewsbury?”

“Walk.”

“Walk? To Shrewsbury? At this hour of the night?”