e
the cap-basket, and holding my hand affectionately as we walked up the
clean-swept path to the door. "I was partly ready to come, but dear
William said I should be all tired out and might get cold, havin'
to beat all the way in. So we give it up, and set down and spent the
evenin' together. It was a little rough and windy outside, and I guess
'twas better judgment; we went to bed very early and made a good start
just at daylight. It's been a lovely mornin' on the water. William
thought he'd better fetch across beyond Bird Rocks, rowin' the greater
part o' the way; then we sailed from there right over to the landin',
makin' only one tack. William'll be in again for me to-morrow, so I can
come back here an' rest me over night, an' go to meetin' to-morrow, and
have a nice, good visit."

"She was just havin' her breakfast," said Mrs. Todd, who had listened
eagerly to the long explanation without a word of disapproval, while her
face shone more and more with joy. "You just sit right down an' have
a cup of tea and rest you while we make our preparations. Oh, I am so
gratified to think you've come! Yes, she was just havin' her breakfast,
and we were speakin' of you. Where's William?"

"He went right back; said he expected some schooners in about noon after
bait, but he'll come an' have his dinner with us tomorrow, unless it
rains; then next day. I laid his best things out all ready," explained
Mrs. Blackett, a little anxiously. "This wind will serve him nice all
the way home. Yes, I will take a cup of tea, dear,--a cup of tea is
always good; and then I'll rest a minute and be all ready to start."

"I do feel condemned for havin' such hard thoughts o' William," openly
confessed Mrs. Todd. She stood before us so large and serious that we
both laughed and could not find it in our hearts to convict so rueful a
culprit. "He shall have a good dinner to-morrow, if it can be got, and
I shall be real glad to see William," the confession ended handsomely,
while Mrs. Blackett smiled approval and made haste to praise the tea.
Then I hurried away to make sure of the grocery wagon. Whatever might be
the good of the reunion, I was going to have the pleasure and delight of
a day in Mrs. Blackett's company, not to speak of Mrs. Todd's.

The early morning breeze was still blowing, and the warm, sunshiny air
was of some ethereal northern sort, with a cool freshness as it
came over new-fallen snow. The world was filled with a fragrance of
f