How they did enjoy themselves ! And how Miss Cordelia enjoyed seeing them enjoy themselves ! When dinner time came she gathered them all around her and went to the wagon . In it she had a basket of bread and butter . `` I ca n't afford anything more , '' she told Cynthia Ann , `` but they must have something to stay their little stomachs . And I can get some water at a farmhouse . '' Miss Cordelia had had her eye on a certain farmhouse all the morning . She did not know anything about the people who lived there , but she liked the looks of the place . It was a big , white , green-shuttered house , throned in wide-spreading orchards , with a green sweep of velvety lawn in front . To this Miss Cordelia took her way , surrounded by her small passengers , and they all trooped into the great farmhouse yard just as a big man stepped out of a nearby barn . As he approached , Miss Cordelia thought she had never seen anybody so much like an incarnate smile before . Smiles of all kinds seemed literally to riot over his ruddy face and in and out of his eyes and around the corners of his mouth . `` Well , well , well ! '' he said , when he came near enough to be heard . `` Is this a runaway school , ma'am ? '' `` I 'm the runaway schoolma'am , '' responded Miss Cordelia with a twinkle . `` And these are a lot of factory children I 've brought out for a Saturday treat . I thought I might get some water from your well , and maybe you will lend us a tin dipper or two ? '' `` Water ? Tut , tut ! ''
said the big man , XXXXX three distinct smiles on his face .
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