Neither man spoke when she put Snatchet down on the floor and threw back the lovely cloak she had received from Ann at Christmas. Lem's eyes glittered as he looked at it. Before Fledra entered, the scowman had been industriously tacking a sole on a big leather boot, held tightly between his knees. Now he ceased working; the rusty hook loosened its hold upon the heel of the boot, and the hammer was poised lightly in his left hand. From his mouth protruded the sparkling points of some steel tacks.
Lon was first to break the strained silence.
"We been waitin' a long time fer ye, Flea. Ye've kept the tug a steamin' fer two hours."
"I couldn't come before," replied the girl. "I had to wait till Fluke and Sister Ann went to bed."
Lon sneered as he repeated: "Sister Ann!"
"She's the lady you saw when you were there, Pappy Lon. And she's the best woman in all the world!"
The squatter smiled darkly.
"Ye'd best put Snatchet in the back room, and then come here again and set down, Flea, 'cause it'll take a long time to get to Ithaca, and ye'll be tired a standin'."
His sarcasm caused no change to cross the girl's face; but Lem grinned broadly. He took the tacks from between his teeth and made as if to speak. After a few vain stutters, however, he replaced the tacks and hammered away at the old boot. Now and then the goiter moved up and down, each movement indicating the passage of a thought through his sluggish brain.
Fledra removed Snatchet and returned to the living-cabin, as Lon had suggested.
"I want to talk to you before I sit down," she said in a low tone. "What are you going to do with me?"
Just then the scow lurched, and the whistle of the tug ahead screamed a farewell to Tarrytown. Fledra heard the grinding of the boat against the landing as it was pulled slowly away, and she sprang to the window. She took one last glimpse of the promised land, one lingering look at the twinkling lights, which shone like glow-worms and seemed to signal sympathy to the terrified girl. Finally she turned a tearless face to Lon.
"I want to know what you're going to do with me when we get to Ithaca. Can I stay awhile with Granny Cronk?"
She glanced fearfully from Lon to the scowman, whose lips were now free of the nails. His wide smile disclosed his darkened teeth as he stammered: "Yer Granny Cronk's been chucked into a six-foot hole in the ground, and ye won't see her no more."