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           Noah—hewentondowntheriver.Heain’ta-goin’on."

           IttookamomentforMatounderstand."Why?"sheaskedsoftly.

           "Idon’know.Sayshegotto.Sayshegottostay.Saysformetotellyou."

           "How’llheeat?"shedemanded.

           "Idon’know.Sayshe’llcatchfish."

           Mawassilentalongtime."Family’sfallin’apart,"shesaid."Idon’know.SeemslikeIcan’tthinknomore.Ijus’can’tthink.They’stoomuch."

           Tomsaidlamely,"He’llbeawright,Ma.He’safunnykindafella."

           Maturnedstunnedeyestowardtheriver."Ijus’can’tseemtothinknomore."

           TomlookeddownthelineoftentsandhesawRuthieandWinfieldstandinginfrontofatentindecorousconversationwithsomeoneinside.Ruthiewastwistingherskirtinherhands,whileWinfielddugaholeinthegroundwithhistoe.Tomcalled,"You,Ruthie!"Shelookedupandsawhimandtrottedtowardhim,withWinfieldbehindher.Whenshecameup,Tomsaid,"Yougogetourfolks.They’resleepin’downthewillows.Get’em.An’youWinfiel’.YoutelltheWilsonswe’regonnagetrollin’soonaswecan."Thechildrenspunaroundandchargedoff.

           Tomsaid,"Ma,how’sGranmanow?"

           "Well,shegotasleeptoday.Maybeshe’sbetter.She’sstilla-sleepin’."

           "Tha’sgood.Howmuchporkwegot?"

           "Notverymuch.Quarterhog."

           "Well,wegottofillthatotherkagwithwater.Gottotakewateralong."TheycouldhearRuthie’sshrillcriesforthemendowninthewillows.