They'll take it, anyways. Well, don't you
want to know where I come on this ring?"
Letty had taken a few hasty steps toward the house. "Yes, I do," owned
she, turning about. "Where was it?"
"Well, Sammy was in swimmin', an' he dove into the Old Hole, to see 'f
't had any bottom to 't. Vianna made him vow he wouldn't go in whilst
he had that rash; but he come home with his shirt wrong side out, an'
she made him own up. But he'd ha' told anyway, he was so possessed to
show that ring. He see suthin' gleamin' on a willer root nigh the bank,
an' he dove, an' there 't was. I told Sammy mebbe you'd give him
suthin' for 't, an' he said there wa'n't nothin' in the world he wanted
but a mite o' David's solder, out in the shed-chamber."
"He shall have it," said Letty hastily. "I'll get it now. Don't you say
anything!" And then she knew she had used the formula she detested, and
that she was no better than Mrs. Peleg Chase, or the wife of Squire
Hill.
She ran frowning into the house, and down and up from kitchen to
cellar. Presently she reappeared, panting, with a great tin pan borne
before her like a laden salver. She set it down at Debby's feet, and
began packing its contents into the yawning bag.
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