I'll declare if there isn't anothah hole in yo' shirt this blessed minute!" The lecture that followed was not of the gala-day kind, but John Jay consoled himself by thinking that he would probably have had a cuffing instead had it happened on any other day.
After breakfast Mammy went away to do a day's scrubbing at Rosehaven.
The children spent most of the morning in watching the road.

Every cloud of dust that tokened an approaching traveller raised a new hope.

Many people went by on horses or in carriages.

Once in a while there was a stray bicycler, but nobody turned in towards the cabin.
After a while, in virtue of its being his especial holiday, John Jay ordered the smaller children to stay in the yard, while he took a swim in the pond.

But the pleasure did not last long.