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Chapter 30
Keepoutthedraf’.»Thetwowomenpushedontheheavyslidingdoor,boosteditalonguntilonlyafootwasopen.«I’llgitourlamp,too,"Mrs.Wainwrightsaid.Herfacewaspurplewithexcitement.«Aggie,"shecalled.«Youtakecareoftheseherelittlefellas.»
Manodded,«Tha’sright.Ruthie!Youan’Winfiel’godownwithAggie.Goonnow.»
«Why?»theydemanded.
«’Causeyougotto.Rosasharngonnahaveherbaby.»
«Iwantawatch,Ma.Pleaseletme.»
«Ruthie!Yougitnow.Yougitquick.»Therewasnoargumentagainstsuchatone.RuthieandWinfieldwentreluctantlydownthecar.Malightedthelantern.Mrs.WainwrightbroughtherRochesterlampdownandsetitonthefloor,anditsbigcircularflamelightedtheboxcarbrightly.
RuthieandWinfieldstoodbehindthebrushpileandpeeredover.«Gonnahaveababy,an’we’rea-gonnasee,"Ruthiesaidsoftly.«Don’tyoumakenonoisenow.Mawon’tletuswatch.Ifshelooksthis-a-way,youscrunchdownbehin’thebrush.Thenwe’llsee.»
«Thereain’tmanykidsseenit,"Winfieldsaid.
«Thereain’tnokidsseenit,"Ruthieinsistedproudly.«On’yus.»
Downbythemattress,inthebrightlightofthelamp,MaandMrs.Wainwrightheldconference.Theirvoiceswereraisedalittleoverthehollowbeatingoftherain.Mrs.Wainwrighttookaparingknifefromherapronpocketandslippeditunderthemattress.«Maybeitdon’tdonogood,"shesaidapologetically.«Ourfolksalwaysdoneit.Don’tdonoharm,anyways.»
Manodded.«Weusedaplowpoint.
