Page:Penrod by Booth Tarkington (1914).djvu/100

86 Farry decidedly. "At least, she seemed odd to me. I met her at the corner just before I got to the house, a few minutes ago, and after we'd said howdy-do to each other, she kept hold of my hand and looked as though she was going to cry. She seemed to be trying to say something, and choking"

"But I don't think that's so very queer, Clara. She knew you in school, didn't she?"

"Yes, but"

"And she hadn't seen you for so many years, I think it's perfectly natural she" "Wait! She stood there squeezing my hand, and struggling to get her voice—and I got really embarrassed—and then finally she said, in a kind of tearful whisper, 'Be of good cheer—this trial will pass!'"

"How queer!" exclaimed Margaret.

Penrod sighed, and returned somewhat absently to his soup.

"Well, I don't know," said Mrs. Schofield thoughtfully. "Of course she's heard about the outbreak of measles in Dayton, since they had to close the schools, and she knows you live there"

"But doesn't it seem a very exaggerated way," suggested Margaret, "to talk about measles?"