Her day at John's
would be prolonged to seven; nay, why not a month, when the winter
itself was not too great a tax for them to lay upon her? In her
deserted house, soda would lose its strength, and even cloves decay.
Lucy Ann felt her will growing very weak within her; indeed, at that
time, she was hardly conscious of having any will at all.
It was Saturday, and John and Ezra were almost sure to be in town. She
thought of that, and how pleasant it would be to hear from the folks:
so much pleasanter than to be always facing them on their own ground,
and never on hers. At the grocery she came upon Ezra, mounted on a
wagon-load of meal-bags, and just gathering up the reins.
"Hullo!" he called. "You didn't walk?"
"Oh, I jest clipped it over," returned Lucy Ann carelessly. "I'm goin'
to git a ride home. I see Marden's Wagon when I come by the
post-office."
"Well, I hadn't any expectation o' your bein' here," said Ezra. "I
meant to ride round tomorrer. We want you to spend Thanksgivin' Day
with us. I'll come over arter you."
"Oh, Ezra!" said Lucy Ann, quite sincerely, with her concession to his
lower fortunes, "why didn't you say so! John's asked me.".
"The dogs!" said Ezra. It was his deepest oath.
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