I wasn't born yesterday, Miss! My folks don't live in New York. Maybe I haven't any folks. I came from clear way out West, anyway—so now! I thought 'way down East must be the finest place in the world. But it isn't."
"Did you run away to come East?" asked Ruth, quietly.
"Well—I came here, anyway. And I don't much like it, I can tell you."
"Ah-ha!" cried Mercy Curtis, chuckling to herself. "I know. She thought Yankee Land was just flowing in milk and honey. Listen! here's what she said to herself before she ran away from home:
"I wish I'd lived away Down East,
Where codfish salt the sea,
And where the folks have apple sass
And punkin pie fer tea!"
That's the 'Western Girl's Lament,' pursued Mercy. "So you found 'way down East nothing like what you thought it was?"
The castaway scowled at the sharp-tongued lame girl for a moment. Then she nodded. "It's the folks," she said. "You're all so afraid of a stranger. Do I look like I'd bite?"
"Maybe not ordinarily," said Helen, laughing softly. "But you do not look very pleasant just now."
