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CHAPTER XV AGNES SHOULDERS RESPONSIBILITY
He had followed the car from town, had scented out her tracks when she entered the woods, and so had followed Agnes to this spot, afraid to come up with her for fear of being scolded; for, of course, he knew well enough he had disobeyed.
But now the dogs loyalty to one of his little mistresses had brought Tom Jonah out of hiding. The attempt of Asa Scruggs
to speak comfortingly.
Huh! lots of good you can do now, grumbled the other. You and that nasty dog has just fixed Pop.
It wasnt Tom Jonahs fault. And Im sure it wasnt my fault. He was only defending me. You and your father shouldnt have tried to stop me.
You hid the dog in the bushes a-purpose, cried Barnabetta, angrily. You know you did.
No, I didnt. And he scared me enough, too. I thought he was a wolf, said Agnes, anxious to explain though why she should be put on the defensive, it would be difficult to tell.
Well, concluded Barnabetta, roughly, you cant be any good here.
I know I cant. But I believe I can help you just the same.
Dont want your help, growled the circus girl.
Oh! dont say that, begged the Corner House girl. I can go to Mr. Bob Buckham and get his carriage and horses
We havent got any money to pay for a carriage, said Barnabetta, quickly.
You wont have to pay Mr. Buckham for doing an act of Christian charity, declared Agnes, and she set off immediately, Tom Jonah following closely at her heels.
Barnabetta did not even bid her good-bye. She was all solicitude for her fathers hurt ankle, and was now kneeling by him, packing the snow about the swelling foot. But she was as hard as nails toward the Corner House girl.
Agnes hurried right down to the railroad and walked without molestation to the crossing she had spoken of. There, up the snowy lane, she obtained her first glimpse of Mr. Bob Buckhams house.
She had come a roundabout way to it, indeed. It was now long past noon and she had missed her dinner. Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Buckham had ceased expecting her long ago.
The big girl who worked in Mrs. Buckhams kitchen Posey by name and an autocrat to a degree met Agnes with a cheerful greeting, but refused admission to Tom Jonah.
No. He cant come in. I just been scrubbin my floor and I cant low no dog trackin it up. You drop your arctics there on the porch, Miss Aggie, and then you can run in to Mrs. Buckham.
If Tom Jonah only wore arctics! sighed the Corner House girl.
Well, he dont mores the pity, agreed Posey.
Agnes ran into the invalids room, all breathless, but full of her adventure. There sat Mrs. Buckham in her wheel-chair, surrounded by bright worsteds and fancywork, as busy and smiling as though she had not spent twenty years between that chair and her bed.
Heres our Corner House girl at last. And why not to dinner? cried Mrs. Buckham.
Oh, mercy me! I didnt even re-mem -ber dinner till just this minute! Agnes confessed.
Your poor child! No dinner? Quick, Posey! heres a starving child
Dear Mrs. Buckham wait! Never mind me. I shant starve yet, declared the plump Agnes, laughing. Look at me. Do I seem so frail? And Ive had the greatest adventure!
Well, well!
Where is Mr. Buckham? I must tell him all about it, too, Agnes said, excitedly.
And here came the farmer as she spoke bewhiskered, grizzled, keen-eyed and always smiling, who cried:
Heres the tardy one! Why, I thought you were coming out betimes, young lady? How are all at the Corner House?
Agnes was too greatly excited to reply in full to that question. Mr. Bob Buckham sat down and the Corner House girl related all that had befallen her since she had left home that morning save that she said nothing about the mystery of the big album she had found in the Corner House garret, and the Scruggs interest in its contents.
Her explanation, therefore, as to why the circus clown and his daughter desired to detain her at their camp in the woods was rather hazy; but the fact of the clown being hurt and the helplessness of the two trampers were sufficient to excite the pity and alarm of the farmer and his wife.
Tut! tut! clucked Mr. Buckham. They cant stay out there in the snow. Its going to be mighty cold to-night.
It is awful to think of, agreed Mrs. Buckham. But Poseys got her hands full. If I was up and about myself
Oh, dear, Mrs. Buckham! I wasnt thinking of such a thing as bringing them here, Agnes cried. The man cant walk to the Milton car. He can scarcely walk at all , with that sprained ankle. But if Mr. Buckham will hitch up and drive over there, and take em to the car, I can get em from the car to the Corner House.
Oh, dear me, child! To your house? cried Mrs. Buckham.
Dunno bout that, said Mr. Buckham.
Of course, said Agnes. Weve plenty of room and beds enough for a hotel.
But what will Ruth say? asked the farmers wife.
And what will your Mrs. MacCall say, eh? chuckled the farmer.
Why, dont
it.
I never asked her for help! flared up the circus girl.
You need help just the same, answered Mr. Buckham. And youd better take it when its kindly offered. You know your father aint in no shape to camp out this weather. And its getting colder.