Maddy was gone, and the wheel ruts of the square-boxed wagon were
fresh before the door when he came back. Grandpa Markham had returned,
and Madeline, who recognized old Sorrel's step, had gathered her shawl
around her and gone sadly out to meet him. One look at her face was
sufficient.
"You failed, Maddy?" the old man said, fixing about her feet the warm
buffalo robe, for the night wind was blowing cool.
"Yes, grandpa, I failed."
They were out of the village and more than a mile on their way home
before Madeline found voice to say so much, and they were nearer home
by half a mile ere the old man answered back: "And, Maddy, I failed too."