"How can you help me?" she said, miserably.
"Well, fust off, where"ve ye set out fur?"
The man was uncultured, but there was a note of sincerity in his speech that impressed Marjorie, now that she was so friendless and alone.
"New York," she replied.
"Why"d ye get out at Newark?"
"I made a mistake," she confessed.
"An" what be ye goin" to do now?"
"I don"t know."
"Ah, jest what I thought! An" then ye ask, how kin I help ye?"
"Well, how can you?"
Under the spur of his strong voice, Marjorie"s spirits had revived the least bit, and she spoke bravely to him.
"Now, that"s more peart-like. Wal, in the fust place I kin take ye home with me, an" my old woman"ll keep ye fer the night, an" I guess that"s what ye need most."
"Where do you live?"
""Bout five miles out in the country."
"How do you get there?"
"Wal, I ain"t got none o" them autymobiles, nor yet no airship; but I"ve got a old nag that can do the piece in an hour or so."
"Why do you want to take me home with you?" asked Marjorie, for she couldn"t help a feeling that there was something wrong.
"Why, bless your heart, child, bekase you"re alone and forlorn and hungry and all done out. An" it"s my privit opinion as how ye"ve run away from home."
"No, not that," said Midget, sadly; "I haven"t any home."
"Ye don"t say so! Wal, wal, never mind fer to-night. You go "long with me, an" Zeb Geary, he"ll look after ye fer a spell, anyhow."
There was no mistaking the kindness now, and Marjorie looked up into the man"s red face with trust and grat.i.tude.
"I"d be glad to go with you and stay till to-morrow," she said; "but first I want to own up that I didn"t "zactly trust you,--but now I do."
"Wal, wal, thet shows a nice sperrit! Now, you come along o" me, an"
don"t try to talk nor nothin". Jest come along."
He took Midget"s hand, and they went down the steps, and along the street for a block or two, to a sort of livery stable.
"Set here a minute," said Mr. Geary, and he left Marjorie on a bench, which stood outside, against the building.
After a time he returned, with an ancient-looking vehicle, known as a Rockaway, and a patient, long-suffering horse.
"Git in back," he said, and Marjorie climbed in, too tired and sad to care much whither she might be taken.
They jogged along at a fair pace, but Mr. Geary, on the front seat, offered no conversation, merely looking back occasionally, as if to a.s.sure himself that his guest was still with him.
After a mile or two, Marjorie began to think more coherently.
She wondered what she would have done if she hadn"t chanced to fall in with this kind, if rough, friend.
She wondered whether she could ever have reached Grandma Maynard"s house in safety, for the crowds and confusion were much worse than she had antic.i.p.ated, and in New York they would be worse still.
At any rate, she would gladly accept shelter and hospitality for the night, and continue her journey next day, during the earlier hours.
It was well after six o"clock when the jogging old horse turned into a lane, and finally stopped at a somewhat tumble-down porch. An old woman appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on her ap.r.o.n.
"Wal, Zeb," she called out, "did ye get back?"
"Yes, Sary, an" I brought ye a visitor for the night."
"A what! Wal, I do declar"!" and Mrs. Geary stepped down and peered into the back seat of the Rockaway. "Who in creation is that?"
"I don"t know," returned her husband.
"Ye don"t know! I swan, Zeb Geary, you must be plumb crazy! Whar"d ye get her?"
"Thar, thar, now, Sary, don"t be askin" questions, but take the pore lamb in, an" cuddle her up some. She"s plumb beat out!"
"Come on, dearie," said the old wife, who had caught sight of Marjorie"s winsome face and sad eyes. "Come along o" me,--I"ll take keer o" ye."
Marjorie let herself be helped from the rickety old vehicle, and went with her hostess, in at the kitchen door.
It wasn"t an attractive kitchen, such as Eliza"s, at Grandma Sherwood"s; it was bare and comfortless-looking, though clean and in good order.
"Now, now, little miss," said Mrs. Geary, hobbling about, "fust of all, let"s get some supper down ye. When did ye eat last?"
"This noon," said Marjorie, and then, at the remembrance of the happy, merry luncheon table at Seacote, she put her head down on her arms, and sobbed as if she had never cried before.
"Bless "ee, bless "ee, now, my lamb; don"t go fer to take on so. There, there, have a sup o" warm milk! Oh, my! my!"
In deference to Mrs. Geary"s solicitude, Marjorie tried hard to conquer her sobs, and had finally succeeded, when Mr. Geary came in.
"Don"t bother her any to-night, Mother," he said, after a sharp glance at Marjorie; "she"s all on edge. Feed her up good, and tuck her into bed."
"Yes, yes; here, my lamb, here"s a nice soft-boiled egg for your tea.
You"ll like that, now?"
"Thank you," said Marjorie, her great, dark eyes looking weird in the dimly lighted kitchen.