or a mess o' fish!"

"Thank you, Mattie. That is very considerate of you. Shall I carry it?"

Mattie was pleased by the other girl's "thank you." Such small
courtesies were almost unknown to her, but she determined to remember
how "good" it had made her feel and to experiment with it upon somebody
else, sometime. Even as Helena's table-setting had also been a lesson in
neatness; and with her eagerness to learn she felt that she had been
amply repaid for giving up her sleep. Chattering as if she had always
known the stranger she led the way safely to the pool, deep in the
woods; and Helena never forgot that scene. Except for the slight
illumination of the lantern the blackness of the forest was intense, and
the rustling of wild things among the tree-tops startled her.

Mattie looked up and saw her fear, then laughed hilariously:

"Two 'fraid-cats together, you an' the birds! Likely, they never saw a
lantern before and hate to be disturbed even more 'n I did, listenin' to
Alfaretta in the kitchen. But don't you like it? Ain't it awful solemn
in such woods in the night-time? Makes a body think of all the hateful
things she's done and sort of wish she hadn't done 'em. But there ain't
no livin' thing in these woods'll hurt you, nowadays, though onct they
was chock full o' grizzlies an' such. Now I guess that's enough. Don't
suppose your folks'd eat a bigger mess 'n that, do you? 'Cause I could
take a few more if you say so."

Helena looked at the big basket of trout and laughed, then shivered at
the echo of her own laughter in that place, which seemed full as
"solemn" to her as it did to the more accustomed Mattie.

They were soon back at the inn, Mattie at once proceeding to show
Alfaretta that she could do some fine cooking herself; and between them
they made Mrs. Roderick's larder suffer, so eager was each to outdo the
other and to suggest some further delicacy for that wonderful meal.

Mrs. Ford paced in and out of the living-room, watchful and still
anxious, though greatly amused at the doings of the three girls, and
wondering, as well, how the landlady could sleep through all that din
and chatter. For Helena, too, had gone into the kitchen and seizing a
pitcher of cream Mattie was carrying to the table, demanded a chance to
"whip" it.

"It's such an improvement, or will be for that good coffee you've made,
and Herbert likes it so much."

Mattie put her arms akimbo and stared; then demanded, in turn:

"Can't