I understood her meaning, but my mother did not appear to
comprehend it, for she replied, with the utmost gravity,--
"No need of his coming to teach us; haven't we been hoeing all our
lives?"
"Not _us_, mother," interrupted Jane, in her peculiarly provoking way,
"but _her_; he won't come to teach _us_,--one will be enough. As to the
_need_ of his coming, it looks to me to be growing stronger and
stronger."
She fairly screamed with laughter, as she said this. I was so provoked
at her, that I was almost ready to cry; and as to answering her as she
deserved, it seemed beyond my power. My mother could not understand what
she meant; but while Jane was going on in this foolish way, she had
untied the bundle and was examining the tools. There were three hoes,
and as many rakes. Observing this, Jane again cried out,--
"What! all for _you_? Well, Lizzie, you are making a nice beginning! I
suppose you will now have more conversational topics than ever, though
there seemed to be plenty of them this morning!"
One would think that this was quite enough, but she went on with,--
"Don't you wish the weeds would last all summer? for what is to become
of you when they are gone?"
Still I made no reply, and Jane persisted in her jokes and laughter.
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