Little Juliet, playing on the steps with her doll Sara, missed none of this conversation, only a part of which, however, she understood.  While she dressed and undressed her child, made of rags and sawdust, put her to sleep and woke her up again, she was listening with attention first to Mrs. Tomkins, and then to Mrs. Ploughman.

“Let’s play you’re Mrs. Grumble,” she told Sara.  And she covered the doll with her handkerchief.  Sara did not mind the square piece of cambric, which Juliet often used to carry small handfuls of earth from one place to another.  “I’m mother,” said Juliet.  Rising to her feet, she went out into the garden, and returned again.  “My dear Mrs. Grumble,” she exclaimed, “how do you feel to-day?”

“Very poorly, thank you,” replied Sara, in that curious squeak with which all of Juliet’s children answered their mother.

“Well, that’s too bad,” said Juliet.  “Where does it hurt you, Mrs. G.?”

“In the stummick,” squeaked Sara.

Juliet shook her head soberly.  “Dear me,” she said.  “Well, cheer up, Mrs. Grumble; what would you like to have?”

“Ice cream,” said Sara hopefully, “and fritters.”

“All right,” said Juliet.  She went back into the garden, whence she presently returned with a few dead leaves and some mud.  “Here,” she said; “here’s the ice cream.  And here’s the fritters.  Don’t get sick, now, will you?”

“No,” said Sara.

Her mother gazed at her with sympathy.  “What else would you like?” she inquired.

“I’d like Mr. Jeminy,” squeaked Sara.  “He’s in the toils.”

“I’ll go and see if I can find him,” said Juliet.  And she began to look about for a twig, or a small branch, suitable for Jeminy.  But all at once she grew thoughtful.  It had occurred to her that to look for Mr. Jeminy in the flesh would be a delightful adventure.  It would please every one.  She sat down on the porch steps to think it over.

In the first place, it would be necessary to slip off unobserved.  For although Mrs. Tomkins, by her own account, would be glad to have Mr. Jeminy back again, Juliet felt that she could not explain to Mrs. Tomkins exactly what she intended to do.  As for the trip, an umbrella in case of rain, and the company of Sara would be sufficient.  Then it was only a question of walking in the direction of Milford, before she came on Mr. Jeminy in the middle of the road; so Mrs. Tomkins had said.

With Sara under her arm, she tiptoed around to the rear of the house, skipped through the yard, climbed the low fence, and hurried home.  There she put on her best bonnet, and took her mother’s umbrella from the closet.  Then she went back to her own room and took down her penny bank.  Holding it upside down, she began to shake it as hard as she could.  But only five pennies fell out.  “That’s enough,” she decided.  It seemed to her that with five pennies she could buy almost anything.