During the meal Janet gained a good deal of information about Jan and his doings from the conversation. Mr. Pieter Van Meter questioned the lad about his school, but not as one who had any responsibility about the matter. Obviously, Cousin Diana and her son were in the family circle because of her services and the atmosphere of home which her pleasant personality created. She was a charming hostess, as Janet found later when company came to the old place.
"I did not see a car drive in when you came," said Janet to Jan when they settled down for a visit together in the library.
"No, I came over from another place where a friend of mine lives. I came on one of their horses, and I dressed first before I appeared to the family."
"Is it so that you have a workshop and everything, back where I room?"
"Are you rooming in the old part, then? Why, yes, I have a room there, too, and they let me use part of the attic sometimes, a sort of den there. I do radio stuff and I like everything about electricity. Uncle Pieter did not think much of it at first; but when I fixed the electric bells and got things all right when fuses burned out, and a few other things, he changed his mind about it. I'm really scarcely related at all. Isn't he a queer old--fellow? I was going to use some slang, but I'd better keep that for school."
Janet favored Jan with an understanding glance. "It's very 'expressive,' I've heard Miss Hilliard say, but she corrects us when we use it. Do you want me to call you John or Jan?"
The boy hesitated. "I used to despise that old Dutch name," he said, "but if you are Jannet, I'll be Jan while I'm here. I'm trying to get permission to stay on instead of going back to school. Uncle Pieter doesn't interfere, only about that, but if I can help about the place a little it will be more fun, and you and I could ride everywhere. Wouldn't you like that?"
"Well, all I ask is that you get Uncle Pieter to liking you a whole lot. I believe he does."
"He couldn't. He only knows me a very little, you see."
"Do you think that a person would have to know you a long while first? I always know whom I'm going to like. They are short of help, the farmer at the tenant house told me, so I'm going to risk it, and ask Uncle Pieter if I can't turn farmer. There are a lot of things to be done, about the trees in the orchard and the stock, for instance, that a boy can do."