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Tale of Mrs. Ladybug (Version 2)

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<h3>VIII SEEKING THE TRUTH</h3> Mrs. Ladybug was determined to know the truth about Mr. P. Bug, the newcomer. And as soon as she had fully recovered from the rude blow that Peppery Polly Bumblebee dealt her, she set out for Farmer Green's garden and the potato patch. For some time Mrs. Ladybug flew back and forth above the potato vines. It was not an easy matter to find so small a person as Mr. Bug in so big a field. But she discovered him at last. And she was somewhat surprised to see him still in his elegant yellow coat, with the black stripes.[Pg 37] For Mrs. Ladybug had expected him to be hard at work, in overalls. To be sure, Mr. P. Bug did appear to be busy about something or other. He was so busy that he scarcely so much as glanced at Mrs. Ladybug when she spoke to him, mumbling "Good morning!" in answer to her greeting, but not taking the trouble to doff his cap. "He's at work anyhow," thought Mrs. Ladybug. "He's helping Farmer Green." Then she alighted on the potato vine where Mr. Bug was clinging. "Don't you remember me?" she asked. He shook his head. His mouth seemed to be full of something—Mrs. Ladybug wasn't sure what. "Don't you recall speaking to me one time?" she persisted. After swallowing, he answered. "I can't say I do!"[Pg 38] "I'm the person that told you how to get to this potato patch," Mrs. Ladybug explained. "When you met me in the orchard, on your way from Colorado, you stopped and asked me to direct you to Farmer Green's potato patch." For a moment or two Mr. Bug seemed puzzled—especially when Mrs. Ladybug mentioned Colorado. But by the time Mrs. Ladybug had finished speaking, he nodded. "So I did!" he exclaimed. "I had forgotten all about that. Though now that you speak of it, I do remember meeting a very talkative dame dressed in a polka dot. Possibly I spoke to you about my settling in the potato patch for the summer?" "No!" said Mrs. Ladybug. "But I thought I'd find you here. You seemed in a great hurry to reach this place."[Pg 39] "So I was!" said Mr. P. Bug. "And I'm glad I came. This is the finest potato patch in the whole valley—so I have been told." "You must have seen a good many others on your journey from Colorado," Mrs. Ladybug ventured. "It's a long way from there to here, I suppose." "I suppose it is," Mr. P. Bug murmured. He seemed to be a bit impatient, as if he were in haste to return to his work and didn't care to talk any longer. "I suppose you were weeks on the road," Mrs. Ladybug went on. "Are you going back to Colorado after you've finished helping Farmer Green with the potato crop?" "Colorado!" he blurted. "I don't know where that place is. I've never been there in all my life."[Pg 40] <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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