She was quickly headed right again, and Deacon Giddings had by no means got to the end of the questions he wanted to ask.
They were not all about Jed's own affairs. In fact, he seemed willing to know everything there was to be known about the Pullman family, and all their relations, and all their neighbors.
Jed was willing enough to answer, whenever the cow would let him, and it made the long walk in the hot sun go by faster and easier.
It was slow enough even then, and by the time they reached Penniman's Corners, seven miles from the village, Deacon Giddings remarked, "Twelve o'clock, I declare! Jedediah Rittenhouse Pullman, you and I and the horses must have something to eat. The cow too, if she can stand still long enough."
Jed had been thinking of that very thing for the last mile or two, and he was glad enough to drive the cow into the tavern barn-yard.
Barlow stood at the gate for a minute or so after it was shut, and barked his best. Enough to last the cow while they were getting their dinners.
The tavern at Penniman's Corners was not so large as some there are in London and Paris and New York, but it was a wonderful thing to Jed, and so was the long dinner table, nearly three times as long as his mother's biggest table at home. There must have been more than two dozen people at that table.
"Jedediah," said the Deacon, before a great while, "you sit still. Eat all you can. I'm going to see about something."
Jed was busy with a great ear of boiled corn, and all he could do was to nod; but when he at last came out of the dining-room, there was news waiting for him.
A big son of Deacon Giddings had come on horseback to meet him, and Jed would not be needed any more, nor Barlow.
Jed's heart began to trouble him, in spite of the boiled corn.
"Oh, it's all right, Jedediah! You needn't feel bad about it. I've fixed a night's lodgin' for ye with Widder Simmons, right across the road there. She's to have a shillin' for it, and you can keep the other three, and go home in the mornin'. Here they are."
That was liberal, considering that Jed had driven the cow little more than half way to Topham, and Jed's face was bright again instantly.
The Deacon had a good deal more to say to him, but before long he, and his son, and the loaded team, and the cow disappeared in a cloud of dust up the north road.