'Well, that beats me!' Jerry said aloud to herself, with a nod for every
word, as she went down the stairs and started for home, taking the Tramp
House on her way. 'I guess I'll go in there and think about it,' she
said, and entering the deserted building, she sat down upon the bench
and began to wonder if she _could do it_, if worst came to worst, as it
might.
'Yes, I could for him, and I'll never tell; I'll be that thing he said,
and a substitute, too, if I can,' she thought, 'though I guess it would
kill me. Oh, I hope I shan't have to do it! I mean to say a prayer about
it, anyway.'
And kneeling down in the damp, dark room, Jerry prayed, first, that it
might never be found out, and second, that if it were she might not be
called to account as an accessory, but might have the courage to be the
substitute, and stand by him forever and ever, amen!'
'I may as well begin to practice, and see if I can bear it,' she
thought, as she walked slowly home, where she astonished Mrs. Crawford
by asking her to make some mush for dinner.
'Mush! Why, child, I thought you hated it' Mrs. Crawford exclaimed.
'I did hate it,' Jerry replied, 'but I want it now real bad. Make it for
me, please. Harold likes it, don't you, Hally?'
Harold did like it very much; and so the mush was made, and Jerry forced
herself to swallow it in great gulps, and made up her mind that she
could not stand that any way.
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