l
by color; a pleased look was in her blue eyes, and a certain neatness
and trimness about her dress to which he had not been accustomed. He
scanned the table wonderingly, for things were not put upon it at
haphazard; the light biscuits turned their brown cheeks invitingly
toward him,--she had arranged that they should do that,--the ham was
crisp, not sodden, and the omelet as russet as a November leaf. "This
is a new dish," he said, looking at it closely. "What do you call it?"

"Omelet. Perhaps you won't like it, but mother used to be very fond of
it."

"No matter. We'll have it if you like it and it brings you pleasant
thoughts of your mother." Then he took a good sip of coffee and set
the cup down again as he had before under the Mumpson regime, but with
a very different expression. She looked anxiously at him, but was
quickly reassured. "I thought I knew how to make coffee, but I find I
don't. I never tasted anything so good as that. How DO you make it?"

"Just as mother taught me."

"Well, well! And you call this making a beginning? I just wish I
could give Tom Watterly a cup of this coffee. It would set his mind at
rest. 'By jocks!' he would say, 'isn't this better than going it
alone?'"

She looked positively happy under this sweet incense to a housewifely
heart. She was being paid in the coin that women love best, and it was
all the more precious to her because she had never expected to receive
it again.

He did like the omelet; he liked everything, and, after helping her
liberally, cleared the table, then said he felt equal to doing two
men's work. Before going out to his work, he lighted a fire on the
parlor hearth and left a good supply of fuel beside it. "Now, Alida,"
he remarked humorously, "I've already found out that you have one fault
that you and I will have to watch against. You are too willing. I fear
you've gone beyond your strength this morning. I don't want you to do
a thing today except to get the meals, and remember, I can help in this
if you don't feel well. There is a fire in the parlor, and I've
wheeled the lounge up by it. Take it quietly today, and perhaps
tomorrow I can begin to show you about butter-making."

"I will do as you wish," she replied, "but please show me a little more
where things are before you go out."

This he did and added, "You'll find the beef and some other things on a
swing-shelf in the cellar. The potato bins are down there, too. But
don't