Murphy and meet Alfrid. Danny beckoned wildly, and Alfrid slowly walked forward to join them.
Danny opened his mouth to speak, but Mr. Murphy beat him to it. “Mrs. Kelly,” he said with a slight bow, “may I present to you Mr. Alfrid Swenson.”
“How do you do, Mrs. Kelly?” Alfrid said, so quietly he could barely be heard.
“Very well, Mr. Swenson. Thank you,” Ma said firmly and held out her right hand, her left wrapped firmly around Peg’s shoulders. Alfrid took it, and for just a moment both he and Ma silently studied each other’s faces. Danny tried to read what they were thinking, but Alfrid seemed as solemn as ever, and Ma smiled, gently pulling her hand away.
“I thank you for taking such good care of Dannyand Peg. You and your wife … You were both very kind.”
Danny didn’t like the way Ma was talking, as though this were all a part of the past. He edged close to Ma, his back to Mr. Murphy, and said, “Ma, you’ll like the farm. It’s near the river, and there’s a woods and green hills. Maybe it’s like Ireland. When you see it you’ll know.”
Ma bent to kiss his forehead. “Oh, Danny, the way you go on! It’s so good to hear your voice again. I’ve missed you all so terribly much. I’ve been so lonely for you. I can’t wait to see the others too—Mike and Frances and little Petey. Do you know that Megan has learned to read and write? She sent another letter only two weeks ago.”
Peg burrowed into the skirt of Ma’s long coat and clung tightly.
“I help Mr. Swenson,” Danny continued. “He told me I’m as good as any farmhand. And Peg and I go to school. And—”
“And I’ve got a kitten named Whiskers!” Peg chimed in.
The station platform was empty except for their little family and Mr. Murphy. Danny shot Mr. Murphy a look of irritation, hoping he’d understand and go away.
Instead, Mr. Murphy said, “The air is cold, Mrs. Kelly. I suggest that we take you out of this chill.”
“I’m sorry.” Alfrid looked embarrassed. “I should have thought.”
Danny scowled. Alfrid didn’t need to apologize. Anyone could see that he was just being kind and patient. Why did Mr. Murphy have to poke his nose in where he wasn’t wanted?
“I understand I’m to stay with a Mrs. Banks,” Ma said, her left arm still pressing Peg tightly to her side. “I would like to meet this kind lady.”
“Of course,” Alfrid said, clumsily picking up Ma’s satchel. “You must be tired from the trip. I’m sure you’d like to rest.” For some reason Alfrid’s face flushed a deep red.
Ma got a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “I’m not the least bit tired, Mr. Swenson. I have a strong constitution. I believe that Danny described me to you as ‘strong as a whole team of horses.’ ” She laughed, and Mr. Murphy laughed, too, but Alfrid looked even more solemn.
“The buggy is hitched by the big oak tree,” Alfrid said. He reached for Ma’s elbow, but Ma had Danny in one hand and Peg in the other and was already striding toward the buggy.
Danny couldn’t believe that Mr. Murphy didn’t have enough sense to leave. He actually walked with Alfrid to the buggy and looked up at Ma. “Since you’ll be visiting in town for a while with Katherine Banks, I’ll be sure to be seeing you now and then,” he said. He tipped his hat, adding, “A pleasant good day to one and all.”
Alfrid climbed into the buggy and flicked the reins. “Katherine’s house is high on the hill with a good view of the river,” he said. “She asked me to take your things there and then—if you were agreeable—to bring you to the store to meet her.”
“Most of the time I have a pleasant nature and do try hard to be agreeable,” Ma teased.
Alfrid’s face flushed again. “I didn’t mean … Perhaps I chose the wrong words.”
Ma laughed again. “I know what you meant, Mr. Swenson. I was trying to ease the strain with a little humor.”
Alfrid looked at Ma in bewilderment. “I
Danny opened his mouth to speak, but Mr. Murphy beat him to it. “Mrs. Kelly,” he said with a slight bow, “may I present to you Mr. Alfrid Swenson.”
“How do you do, Mrs. Kelly?” Alfrid said, so quietly he could barely be heard.
“Very well, Mr. Swenson. Thank you,” Ma said firmly and held out her right hand, her left wrapped firmly around Peg’s shoulders. Alfrid took it, and for just a moment both he and Ma silently studied each other’s faces. Danny tried to read what they were thinking, but Alfrid seemed as solemn as ever, and Ma smiled, gently pulling her hand away.
“I thank you for taking such good care of Dannyand Peg. You and your wife … You were both very kind.”
Danny didn’t like the way Ma was talking, as though this were all a part of the past. He edged close to Ma, his back to Mr. Murphy, and said, “Ma, you’ll like the farm. It’s near the river, and there’s a woods and green hills. Maybe it’s like Ireland. When you see it you’ll know.”
Ma bent to kiss his forehead. “Oh, Danny, the way you go on! It’s so good to hear your voice again. I’ve missed you all so terribly much. I’ve been so lonely for you. I can’t wait to see the others too—Mike and Frances and little Petey. Do you know that Megan has learned to read and write? She sent another letter only two weeks ago.”
Peg burrowed into the skirt of Ma’s long coat and clung tightly.
“I help Mr. Swenson,” Danny continued. “He told me I’m as good as any farmhand. And Peg and I go to school. And—”
“And I’ve got a kitten named Whiskers!” Peg chimed in.
The station platform was empty except for their little family and Mr. Murphy. Danny shot Mr. Murphy a look of irritation, hoping he’d understand and go away.
Instead, Mr. Murphy said, “The air is cold, Mrs. Kelly. I suggest that we take you out of this chill.”
“I’m sorry.” Alfrid looked embarrassed. “I should have thought.”
Danny scowled. Alfrid didn’t need to apologize. Anyone could see that he was just being kind and patient. Why did Mr. Murphy have to poke his nose in where he wasn’t wanted?
“I understand I’m to stay with a Mrs. Banks,” Ma said, her left arm still pressing Peg tightly to her side. “I would like to meet this kind lady.”
“Of course,” Alfrid said, clumsily picking up Ma’s satchel. “You must be tired from the trip. I’m sure you’d like to rest.” For some reason Alfrid’s face flushed a deep red.
Ma got a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “I’m not the least bit tired, Mr. Swenson. I have a strong constitution. I believe that Danny described me to you as ‘strong as a whole team of horses.’ ” She laughed, and Mr. Murphy laughed, too, but Alfrid looked even more solemn.
“The buggy is hitched by the big oak tree,” Alfrid said. He reached for Ma’s elbow, but Ma had Danny in one hand and Peg in the other and was already striding toward the buggy.
Danny couldn’t believe that Mr. Murphy didn’t have enough sense to leave. He actually walked with Alfrid to the buggy and looked up at Ma. “Since you’ll be visiting in town for a while with Katherine Banks, I’ll be sure to be seeing you now and then,” he said. He tipped his hat, adding, “A pleasant good day to one and all.”
Alfrid climbed into the buggy and flicked the reins. “Katherine’s house is high on the hill with a good view of the river,” he said. “She asked me to take your things there and then—if you were agreeable—to bring you to the store to meet her.”
“Most of the time I have a pleasant nature and do try hard to be agreeable,” Ma teased.
Alfrid’s face flushed again. “I didn’t mean … Perhaps I chose the wrong words.”
Ma laughed again. “I know what you meant, Mr. Swenson. I was trying to ease the strain with a little humor.”
Alfrid looked at Ma in bewilderment. “I
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