;
I want salt; I want tubs; but I will make out a list, and you will find
it a very long one."

"Well, I hope you have something to sell to pay for them?"

"Yes; I have plenty of butter salted down."

"What have you, Edith?"

"Oh, my chickens are not large enough yet: as soon as they are, Humphrey
must get me some ducks and geese, for I mean to keep some; and by and by
I will have some turkeys; but not yet. I must wait till Humphrey builds
me the new house for them he has promised me."

"I think you are right, Edith, about the ducks and geese; they will do
well on the water behind the yard, and I will dig you out a bigger pool
for them."

"Edith, my dear, your little fingers are just made to weed my onions
well, and I wish you would do it to-morrow morning, if you have time."

"_Yes_, Humphrey, but my little fingers won't smell very nice
afterwards."

"Not till you have washed them, I guess; but there is soap and water,
you know."

"Yes, I know there is; but if I weed the onions I cannot help Alice to
make the butter; however, if Alice can do without me I will do it."

"I want some more seeds sadly," said Humphrey, "and I must make out my
list. I must go to Lymington myself this time, Edward; for you will be
puzzled with all our wants."

"Not if I know exactly what you do want; but as I really do not, and
probably should make mistakes, I think it will be better if you do go.
But it is bedtime, and as I shall start early, good-night, sisters; I
beg you will let me have something to eat before I start. I shall try
for some venison, as I come back, and shall take Smoker with me: he is
quite well again, and his ribs are as stout as ever."

"And, Edward," said Alice, "I wish, when you kill any venison, that you
would bring home some of those parts which you usually throw away, for I
assure you, now that we have three dogs, I hardly know how to find
enough for them to eat."

"I'll not fail, Alice," replied Edward, "and now once more good-night."

Early the next morning Edward took his gun, and, with Pablo and Smoker,
set off for Oswald's cottage.

Edward talked a great deal with Pablo relative to his former life; and,
by the answers which the boy gave him, was satisfied that,
notwithstanding his doubtful way of bringing up, the lad was not
corrupted, but was a well-minded boy. As they walked through a grove of
trees, Edward still talking, Pablo stopped and put his hand before
Edward's mouth, and then s