You know what she is."
"Pa," said Robina, "will have time while in the train to think out
something plausible; that's where Pa is clever. With Pa off my hands
I sha'n't mind. We three can live on cold ham and things like that.
By Thursday we will be all right, and then he can come down again."
I pointed out to Robina, kindly but firmly, the utter absurdity of
her idea. How could I leave them, three helpless children, with no
one to look after them? What would the Little Mother say? What
might not Veronica be up to in my absence? There were other things
to be considered. The donkey might arrive at any moment--no
responsible person there to receive him--to see to it that his simple
wants would be provided for. I should have to interview Mr. St.
Leonard again to fix up final details as regarded Dick. Who was
going to look after the cow, about to be separated from us? Young
Bute would be down again with plans. Who was going to take him over
the house, explain things to him intelligibly? The new boy might
turn up--this simple son of the soil Miss Janie had promised to dig
out and send along. He would talk Berkshire. Who would there be to
understand him--to reply to him in dialect? What was the use of her
being impetuous and talking nonsense?
She went on cutting sandwiches. She said they were not helpless
children. She said if she and Dick at forty-two hadn't grit enough
to run a six-roomed cottage it was time they learned.
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