d they got off with a slight reprimand, much to their
surprise and delight. For to tell the truth, Janet's patience with the
bairns, exhaustless in most circumstances, was wont to give way in the
presence of "torn clothes and ruined shoon."

The next week was hardly so successful. It was cold and rainy. The
gold and crimson glories of the forest disappeared in a night, and the
earth looked gloomy and sad under a leaden sky. The inconveniences of
the little brown house became more apparent now. It had been declared,
at first sight, the very worst house in Merleville, and so it was, even
under a clear sky and brilliant sunshine. A wretched place it looked.
The windows clattered, the chimney smoked, latches and hinges were
defective, and there were a score of other evils, which Janet and the
lads strove to remedy without vexing their father and Graeme. A very
poor place it was, and small and inconvenient besides. But this could
not be cured, and therefore must be endured. The house occupied by Mr
Elliott's predecessor had been burned down, and the little brown house
was the only unoccupied house in the village. When winter should be
over something might be done about getting another, and in the meantime
they must make the best of it.

The people were wonderfully kind. One man came to mend windows and
doors, another to mend the chimney. Orrin Green spent two days in
banking up the house. Deacons Fish and Slowcome sent their men to bring
up wood; and apples and chickens, and pieces of beef were sent in by
some of the village people.

There were some drawbacks. The wood was green, and made more smoke than
heat; and Janet mortally offended Mr Green by giving him his dinner
alone in the kitchen. Every latch and hinge, and pane of glass, and the
driving of every nail, was charged and deducted from the half year's
salary, at prices which made Janet's indignation overflow. This latter
circumstance was not known, however, till the half year was done; and in
the meantime it helped them all through this dreary time to find their
new friends so kind.

In the course of time, things were put to rights, and the little bare
place began to look wonderfully comfortable. With warm carpets on the
floors, and warm curtains on the windows, with stools and sofas, and
tables made out of packing boxes, disguised in various ways, it began to
have a look of home to them all.

The rain and the clouds passed away, too, and the la