Page:Burnett - Two Little Pilgrims' Progress A Story of the City Beautiful.djvu/149

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Two Little Pilgrims' Progress
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towards them, her husband following her rather awkwardly.

She stopped before them, and the two pairs of dark eyes lifted themselves to her face.

"I've just been talking to my man about you two," she said. "We couldn't help looking at you. Have you lost your friends?"

"No, ma'am," said Robin. "We haven't got any. I mean we're not with anyone."

The woman turned and looked at her husband.

"Well—Jem!" she exclaimed.

The man drew near and looked them over. He was a raw-boned, big young man, with a countrified, good-natured face.

"You hain't come here alone?" he said.

"Yes," said Robin. "We couldn't have come if we hadn't come alone. We're not afraid, thank you. We're getting along very well."

"Well—Jem!" said the woman again.

She seemed quite stirred. There was something in her ordinary good-natured face that was quite like a sort of rough emotion.

"Have you plenty of money?" she asked.

"No," said Rob. "Not plenty—but we have a little."

She put her basket down, and opened it. She