she took his hand and kissed it. I doubt if he
had ever been so much embarrassed before.
I was a little startled, too. Somehow, that
seemed to bring the Old World very close.

We rode away laughing, and grandfather
said: "I expect she thought we had come to
take the cow away for certain, Jim. I wonder
if she wouldn't have scratched a little if we'd
laid hold of that lariat rope!"

Our neighbors seemed glad to make peace
with us. The next Sunday Mrs. Shimerda
came over and brought Jake a pair of socks
she had knitted. She presented them with an
air of great magnanimity, saying, "Now you
not come any more for knock my Ambrosch
down?"

Jake laughed sheepishly. "I don't want to
have no trouble with Ambrosch. If he'll let
me alone, I'll let him alone."

"If he slap you, we ain't got no pig for pay
the fine," she said insinuatingly.

Jake was not at all disconcerted. "Have
the last word, mam," he said cheerfully.
"It's a lady's privilege."

[[155]]

p154 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p155w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p156

v?