Secret of Richmond Manor by Gilbert L. Morris

immediately what he meant. “Oh, yes, everything’s fine, Jeff.” She looked at Charlie Bowers and knew she could not say much. “The problem we were talking about—it’s going to be all right.”
    It appeared Jeff hardly knew what to say to her and felt awkward. Finally he said abruptly, “Well, we’ve got to go. Good-bye, Leah.”
    She was disappointed. She had hoped that Jeff would be more ready to listen. Back at Richmond Manor she was met by her uncle. He held out an envelope and said, “Another invitation.”
    â€œInvitation to what?” Leah asked.
    â€œIt’s Lucy Driscoll’s birthday. She sent a note especially for you.”
    Instantly Leah knew what had happened. “She didn’t do it because she wanted to. I bet her parents made her send it.”
    â€œOh, don’t talk like that,” Uncle Silas said, his face showing surprise. “I think you ought to go. Not much fun for a young girl like you around here.”
    â€œI don’t want to, Uncle Silas.”
    â€œIs it because you don’t have anything to wear? I know that you felt bad last time, but you could make a new dress, if that’s what you want to do.”
    Leah felt tired and discouraged. The strain of the past days had worn on her. She hadn’t slept well and was constantly expecting someone to stumble upon Ezra. “I’m just tired,” she said. “And she doesn’t really want me to come.”
    â€œWell, it’s as you say.” Silas nodded. “Write her a note then. That no-account Rufus Prather’s been hanging around a lot. I expect he’s sweet on you.”
    â€œI don’t like him, Uncle Silas.”
    â€œHe’s a lazy, shiftless boy. I don’t want him hanging around. I’ll tell him so the next time, but he’s handy for carrying letters. Write a note—we’ll send it to the Driscolls.”
    â€œAll right. I’ll do that.”
    Leah found paper and pen and wrote a brief letter thanking the Driscolls for the invitation and using the excuse that her uncle still wasn’t feeling well and she wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving him.
    Later that afternoon she saw Rufus Prather about to drive past in a wagon. She ran out to the road, and he pulled up at once.
    â€œWhy, howdy, Leah,” he said. “Come on, we’ll go for a ride.”
    â€œNo, I can’t do that. Would you give this note to Mr. or Mrs. Driscoll, Rufus?”
    â€œShore, I’ll do that.” Rufus stuck it carelessly into his pocket. “You coming to that birthday party, aren’t you?”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    Rufus nodded. “I don’t blame you. They’re too highfalutin, all those Driscolls. Now, me and you —we’re alike.”
    Leah gave him a half-angry, half-amused look. He was such a stupid boy that it would be hard to explain how exactly they were
not
alike. She handed him the dollar that Uncle Silas had given her and said, “There! That’s for delivering the note.”
    Later in the afternoon, Uncle Silas lay down to take a nap. After he had been asleep for some time, Leah thought it would be safe to go out and talk toEzra. She closed the screen door very quietly. She had bought a half dozen apples and carried one with her.
    When she got to the barn, she found him waiting for her.
    â€œI was watching through the door and saw you coming,” he said.
    She held out the apple. “Here. I got a few of these in town. I ate one—they’re real good.”
    Ezra took the apple, polished it on his sleeve, and nodded. “Thank you. Nothing I like better than a good apple. You eat half of it.”
    â€œNo, I’ve already had one. You go ahead, Ezra.”
    They sat down in the hay, and Ezra ate the apple very slowly, enjoying it.
    â€œYou look better,” she said. “Your face has got a little color in it.”
    â€œAll that good