By the end of the week Jed had become sufficiently emboldened to ask her mother to permit her to come in the afternoon also.

This request was the result of a conspiracy between Barbara and himself.
"You ask your ma," urged Jed.

"Tell her I say I need you here afternoons." Barbara looked troubled.

"But that would be a wrong story, wouldn't it ?" she asked.

"You don't really need me, you know." "Eh?
Yes, I do; yes, I do." "What for?
What shall I tell her you need me for ?" Jed scratched his chin with the tail of a wooden whale.
"You tell her," he drawled, after considering for a minute or two, "that I need you to help carry lumber." Even a child could not swallow this ridiculous excuse.