Page:North of Boston (Frost, 1915).djvu/24

16 You needn't smile — I didn't recognise him — I wasn't looking for him — and he's changed. Wait till you see."

"Where did you say he'd been?"

" He didn't say. I dragged him to the house, And gave him tea and tried to make him smoke. I tried to make him talk about his travels. Nothing would do: he just kept nodding off."

"What did he say? Did he say anything?" " But little."

"Anything? Mary, confess He said he'd come to ditch the meadow for

me."

"Warren!"

" But did he? I just want to know." " Of course he did. What would you have him say? Surely you wouldn't grudge the poor old man Some humble way to save his self-respect.