' as I set here what a
stunnin' cook you've got t' be in these ten months. I used t' think you'd
have a lot t' learn after you was married, but you seem t' 'a' learned it
short off--eh, John?"

John Hunter had to reply. "I've been sorry mother had to go away.
Elizabeth's done pretty well, but mother would have been a great help,
with her fixed ways of doing things," he said reluctantly.

Luther had been looking earnestly at John, but spared Elizabeth when he
saw her confusion by looking quickly down at his plate and saying
nothing.

"Don't know's Lizzie needs any help as far as doin' things is concerned,
though she may need more rest," Silas returned; and Sadie took up the
subject.

"I think my stove bakes a little better on the bottom," she remarked
critically.

"I low t' taste your pies to-morrow if it don't rain," Silas answered her
without looking up from the bite he was severing with the knife upon which
it was to be conveyed to his mouth.

Luther Hansen's laugh rang out heartily.

"Don't," he said, winking at Sadie. "She'll be keepin' me out of th' field
t' fire th' oven."

The sting of the criticism was drawn by Luther's merry acceptation of it.
Sadie laughed too, but the hint left its rankling point. These same men
would harvest for them on the morrow, and as Sadie looked over Elizabeth
Hunter's well set table she knew that she would not have the advantage on
her side.

"Lizzie's always had th' best of everything," she thought.

Silas Chamberlain thought over the day's events as he rode slowly home.
While unhitching, Old Queen nipped angrily at Bob, who had sniffed at her
collar pad, and Silas cuffed her ears.

"Whoa, there, you spiteful beast! You'll be wantin' pie that's a leetle
better done on th' under crust next. Drat 'er! I could 'a' fit right
there, only--well you kin allus hit harder with that kind of folks if you
don't let yourself git riled. Pore little woman! Not little, neither--but
a year ago so young an' glowin' with happiness. Used t' make me think of a
bob-white, trottin' up an down these roads s' contented like, an' allus so
friendly an' sociable. Looks 's if she didn't have spirits enough t' laugh
at nothin' these days. Looks 's if she'd had a peep into a den of wild
beasts an' was afraid they'd break out an' get 'er. Liza Ann's got t' go
an' see 'er, an' I'm goin' t' tell 'er so."

As Silas went toward the house, he stopped suddenly and looked back at the
wagon, which stood in