*

HAYTIME was over and harvest was close at hand. In the brief space
between, the reapers were being put into shape for the cutting of the
grain. That morning, while the biggest and the youngest brothers were
repairing the broken rakes of a dropper, the eldest had sharpened the
long saw-knife, aided by the little girl, whom he compelled to turn the
squeaking grindstone. They had begun early, working under the tool-shed,
and for hours the little girl had labored wearily at the winch-handle,
with only an occasional rest. By eleven o'clock her arms were so tired
that she could scarcely go on, and she became rebellious. Perhaps it was
not only her fatigue, but the fact that "David Copperfield" had arrived
the day before and was awaiting her temptingly in the sitting-room, that
caused her, in a cross though not malicious moment, to give the circling
handle such a whirl that the reaper blade was jerked violently forward;
and, as it bounded and sang against the stone, it cut a gash in the
eldest brother's hand.

The swallows nesting under the roof of the shed saw the little girl
suddenly run toward the house, followed by the irate eldest brother, who
carried a basin of water. The two disappeared into the entry, the little
girl leading. When the eldest brother came out, still holding the basin,
he looked angry and warm. For, with all his hunting, she had managed to
escape him, and he was obliged to nurse his wrath and his hand
unavenged.

The little girl had dived under the canopied bed, where she stayed,
holding her breath, while the eldest brother looked for her high and
low. When he went out, calling the youngest brother to take her place,
she yet remained discreetly hidden. At dinner-time a plate of food and a
glass of milk mysteriously made their appearance at the edge of the bed,
so that she was able to stay in seclusion and wait for the storm to
pass. But even "David Copperfield," which arrived with her meal, did not
aid her in whiling away the hours. So the biggest brother's suggestion
came as a welcome relief.

When the buckboard rolled along the corn road, the little girl stepped
out of the field and climbed to the seat on the driver's side. Neither
she nor the biggest brother spoke, but, as the blue mare jogged on, she
took the reins from him and chirruped gaily to the horse, with an inward
wish that, instead of being in the buckboard, she were free of it and on
the blue mare's back. The mare made poor progr