big, happy family, an' good Parson Winstead was to us like a
father. But, goodness me! if I keep gassin' this way, dinner'll never
be ready," and she hurried off to the kitchen.

When Mrs. Dempster brought Joe from the house he was a greatly changed
man. His step was elastic, his head erect and his eyes shone with a
new hope. He ate well, too, almost the first he had eaten in several
days, so he informed his companions.

It was a pleasant company which gathered under the shade of the old
apple tree. Empty had received his second piece of strawberry
shortcake, and was satisfied. When dinner was over, he once more
stretched himself out upon the ground and resumed the sleep which his
mother had disturbed.

During the meal Mrs. Dempster had been flitting to and fro between the
house and the apple tree. There was always something she had to attend
to, so she explained when Douglas remonstrated, telling her that she
should eat something herself, and never mind the rest. But she would
not listen, as she had to look after the fire, get a plateful of
doughnuts, and most important of all, to see how the invalid was making
out with her dinner.

"The poor dear has eaten more than she has any time since she's been
sick," she told them with pride, after one of her visits to the house.
"An' there's a little tinge of colour, too, in her white cheeks, an'
she really smiled an' thanked me when I took her in her dinner."

"That is encouraging, isn't it?" Douglas asked. Joe said nothing
though his eyes never left the widow's face, and he listened almost
breathlessly to her slightest word about Jean.

"It is a good sign," Mrs. Dempster replied, as she sat upon the ground
and poured for herself a cup of tea. "An' it's another good sign that
she wants to see you, sir."

"See me!" Douglas exclaimed in surprise. "Why is that a good sign?"

"'Cause she hasn't wanted to see any one since she's been sick."

"What does she want to see me for?"

"To thank ye for playin', most likely. She made me tell her who it
was, as she was most curious to know. She's takin' an interest in
things now, an' that's encouragin'."

When Mrs. Dempster had finished her dinner, she rose to her feet and
informed Douglas that she was ready to take him to see Jean.

"You jist make yerself comfortable, Joe, an' I'll be back in a jiffy.
Lean aginst that tree an' rest ye'r poor old back. It's always good to
have something to lean aginst. Since John