Page:The children in the little old red house (IA childreninlittle00doug).pdf/19

Rh “We've been tellin’ him about mother. An’ we cried——.”

“Oh, Tip, you must have been born crying!. You're good for a drouthy time! And what a dirty lot! Oh, do go and get washed! I’m ashamed of you!”

“Where did your mother go—to what place, I mean?” he asked of the newcomer.

“Well, the train goes to Bridgeville, then you have to walk to Tory Corner. A great lot of Tories lived there in war times. She’s a queer old lady—was grandmother’s sister. Mother wouldn’t have gone only they sent particular word. She thought she’d be home by noon.”

“An’ she isn’t!” Tip dug his knuckles into his eyes and sniffed. “An’ if she was your mother and didn’t come home I guess you'd cry too, when she’s the most beautifullest mother in the world!”

This was addressed to the man, who smiled humorously.

“Please don’t mind them, Mr. Man. You’re very good to—to ask about her. Oh, children, do go in and wash up! You are a disgrace to the country. It’s lucky we live on the back road. People don’t often come this way. Mother’s all right, I know.”