His somber expression was still in evidence.

Jed would have liked to cheer him up, but he did not know how.

However he made an attempt by changing the subject.
"How is Babbie this mornin' ?" he asked.
"She's as lively as a cricket, of course.

And full of excitement.
She's going to school next Monday, you know.

You'll rather miss her about the shop here, won't you ?" "Miss her! My land of Goshen! I shouldn't be surprised if I follered her to school myself, like Mary's little lamb.