[{"node":{"title":"Hanna209","Collections":"Part Three","Contributor":"Linen Hall Library","Coverage":"1951","Creator":"Linen Hall Library","Date":"Thursday, April 7, 2016","Format":"TIFF","Identifier":"Hanna209","Item Description":"Manuscript","Keywords":"Schoolbag, Habit","Language":"English","Path":"https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/hanna209","Publisher":"Linen Hall Library","Relation":"Linen Hall Library","Rights":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA","Scanned image":{"src":"https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Hanna209_0.jpg","alt":""},"Source":"LHL Archive","Transcript":"\ufeff202\n\ndoorway of the dwelling-house, wiping her hands on her\napron. Martha backed towards her, still watching Mr.\nHerriot, and Andrew, realising that the trouble ahead\ncould not be averted, went off after his truant ducks.\n\nHerriot touched his hat and went forward. \"I'm\nthe master - Mr Herriot. You're Andrew's mother?\"\nSarah nodded, watching him carefully as her daughter had\ndone. \"You're welcome,\" she said \"Wont ye come in?\"\nHerriot thanked her and entered the kitchen.\n\n\"I brought back Andrew's schoolbag, He left it\nbehind him.\" As the woman did not speak he continued:\n\"I asked Martha if this was where she lived - but she's\nlost her tongue.\" The master smiled. \"You wouldn't\nthink it was the same girl at school.\"\n\nSarah glanced at her daughter and entered into\nHerriot's jocular mood. \"I'm sure she's a right nuisance\nat times to ye.\"\n\nThe man demurred and then said: \"I'd like a word\nwith you, Mrs Echlin.\"\n\n\"Martha,\" said her mother, \"away out and help\nAndrew house the ducks.\" When the girl had left the\nhouse Sarah turned enquiringly to the schoolmaster.\n\"Please sit down,\" she said, drawing forward a chair.\n\n\"Mrs Echlin,\" began Herriot, \"do you know that\nAndrew ran away from school today? \"No,\" he added, as\nhe noticed the expression on her face. \"The blame doesn't\nlie with the boy.\"\n\n\"Oh, who's to blame then?\" asked Sarah, bridling\nat his words.\n\n\"I dont know - perhaps no one. But Andrew's going\ndeaf. Bid you know that?\"\n\nShe wound her hands in her apron, a habit of hers\nwhen she was worried. \"I knew he was a bit deef at times.\nStill and all, he can hear well enough when he wants.\"\n","Type":"Text"}}]