His contempt was unveiled,
for the country lout who had shown himself a coward had dared to raise
his eyes to the one star in Daddy John's firmament. He would not have
hidden his dislike if he could. Leff was of the outer world to which
he relegated all men who showed fear or lied.
He turned to Susan:
"Go back in the wagon and lie down. Here comes Leff and I don't want
him to see you."
The young girl thought no better of Leff than he did. The thought of
being viewed in her abandonment by the despised youth made her scramble
into the back of the wagon where she lay concealed on a pile of sacks.
In the forward opening where the canvas was drawn in a circle round a
segment of sky, Daddy John's figure fitted like a picture in a circular
frame. As a step paused at the wheel she saw him lean forward and
heard his rough tones.
"Yes, she's here, asleep in the back of the wagon."
Then Leff's voice, surprised:
"Asleep? Why, it ain't an hour since we started."
"Well, can't she go to sleep in the morning if she wants? Don't you go
to sleep every Sunday under the wagon?"
"Yes, but that's afternoon.
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