Mrs. Pritchett's bonnet only shook the harder, and she did not turn to look at the girls. Lucas cast a very rueful glance in their direction as he drove hastily away.
"Now we've done it!" gasped 'Phemie, half laughing, half in disgust.
"Why! whatever is the matter, do you suppose?" demanded her sister.
"I see she's angry over Sairy and the school teacher--poor man! But what have we to do with that?"
"It's your fatal attractiveness," sighed 'Phemie. Then she began to laugh. "You're a very innocent baby, Lyd. Don't you see that Maw Pritchett thought--or hoped--that she had Mr. Somers nicely entangled with Sairy? And he neglected her for you. Bing! it's all off, and we're at outs with the Pritchett family."
"What awful language!" sighed Lyddy, unlocking the door. "I am sorry you ever went to work in that millinery shop, 'Phemie. It has made your mind--er--almost common!"
If the Pritchett females were "at outs" with them, the men of the family did not appear to be. At least, Cyrus and his son were at Hillcrest bright and early on Monday morning, with two teams ready for plowing. Lyddy had a serious talk with Mr. Pritchett first.
"Ya-as. That's good 'tater and truckin' land behind the barn. It's laid out a good many years now, for it's only an acre, or so, and we never tilled it for corn. It's out o' the way, kinder," said the elder Pritchett.
"Then I want that for a garden," Lyddy declared.
"It don't pay me to work none of this 'off' land for garden trucks," said Cyrus, shortly. "Not 'nless ye want a few rows o' stuff in the cornfield jest where I can cultivate with the hosses."
"But if you plant corn here, you must plant my garden, too," insisted Lyddy, who was quite as obstinate as the old farmer. "And I'd like to have a big garden, and plenty of potatoes, too. I am going to keep boarders this summer, and I want to raise enough to feed them--or partly feed them, at least."
"We're not rich enough to sit with idle hands, and I mean to try and earn something," Lyddy declared. "And we'll want vegetables to carry us over winter, too."
Lucas had been listening with flushed and anxious face. Now he broke in eagerly:
"You said I could till a piece for myself this year, Dad. Lemme do it up here. There's a better chance to sell trucks in Bridleburg than there has been. I'll plow and take care of two acres up here, if Miss Lyddy says so, for half the crops, she to supply seed and fertilizer."
