y she was resting and her wounds were healing
through the long, quiet days.

It was the essential calm after the storm. Caring for the dairy and
working the butter into firm, sweet, tempting yellow rolls were the
only tasks that troubled her a little, but Holcroft assured her that
she was learning these important duties faster than he had expected her
to. She had several hours a day in which to ply her needle, and thus
was soon enabled to replenish her scanty wardrobe.

One morning at breakfast she appeared in another gown, and although its
material was calico, she had the appearance to Holcroft of being
unusually well dressed. He looked pleased, but made no comment. When
the cherry blossoms were fully out, an old cracked flower vase--the
only one in the house--was filled with them, and they were placed in
the center of the dinner table. He looked at them and her, then
smilingly remarked, "I shouldn't wonder if you enjoyed those cherry
blows more than anything else we have for dinner."

"I want something else, though. My appetite almost frightens me."

"That's famous! I needn't be ashamed of mine, then."

One evening, before the week was over, he saw her busy with a rake
about the door. Last year's leaves were still scattered about, with
twigs and even small boughs wrested by the winds from the trees. He
was provoked with himself that he had neglected the usual spring
clearing away of litter, and a little irritated that she should have
tried to do the work herself. He left the horses at the barn and came
forward directly. "Alida," he said gravely, "there's no need of your
doing such work; I don't like to see you do it."

"Why," she replied, "I've heard that women in the country often milk
and take care of the chickens."

"Yes, but that's very different from this work. I wouldn't like people
to think I expected such things of you."

"It's very easy work," she said smilingly, "easier than sweeping a
room, though something like it. I used to do it at home when I was a
girl. I think it does me good to do something in the open air."

She was persisting, but not in a way that chafed him. Indeed, as he
looked into her appealing eyes and face flushed with exercise, he felt
that it would be churlish to say another word.

"Well," he said, laughing, "it makes you look so young and rosy I guess
it does you good. I suppose you'll have to have your own way."

"You know I wouldn't do this or anything else if