They came in sight of the Smalley front gate and Jed came out of his walking trance to hear her say: "Anyway, we like it all but the sal'ratus biscuits and the coffee and THEY are dreadful.

Mamma thinks it's made of chickenry--the coffee, I mean." At the gate Jed's "queerness," or shyness, came upon him.

The idea of meeting Mrs.Armstrong or even the members of the Smalley family he shrank from.

Barbara invited him to come in, but he refused even to accompany her to the door.
"I'll just run along now," he said, hurriedly.

"Good night." The child put out her hand.