was some indignation felt and expressed on the
subject.

But she had her friends, and that not a few, for sweet words and soft
came very naturally to Janet's lips when her heart was touched, and this
always happened to her in the presence of suffering and sorrow, and many
were the sad and sick that her kind words comforted, and her willing
hands relieved. For every sharp word brought up against her, there
could be told a kindly deed, and Janet's friends were the most numerous
at the sewing-circle that night.

Merleville was by no means on the outskirts of civilisation, though
viewed from the high hill on which the old meeting-house stood, it
seemed to the children to be surrounded with woods. But between the
hills lay many a fertile valley. Except toward the west, where the
hills became mountains, it was laid out into farms, nearly all of which
were occupied, and very pleasant homes some of these farm-houses were.
The village was not large enough to have a society within itself
independent of the dwellers on these farms, and all the people, even to
the borders of the "ten miles square," considered themselves neighbours.
They were very socially inclined, for the most part, and Merleville was
a very pleasant place to live in.

Winter was the time for visiting. There was very little formality in
their entertainments. Nuts and apples, or doughnuts and cheese, was
usually the extent of their efforts in the way of refreshments, except
on special occasions, when formal invitations were given. Then, it must
be confessed, the chief aim of each housekeeper seemed to be to surpass
all others in the excellence and variety of the good things provided.
But for the most part no invitations were given or needed, they dropped
in on one another in a friendly way.

The minister's family were not overlooked. Scarcely an evening passed
but some of their neighbours came in. Indeed, this happened too
frequently for Janet's patience, for she sorely begrudged the time taken
from the minister's books, to the entertainment of "ilka idle body that
took leave to come in." It gave her great delight to see him really
interested with visitors, but she set her face against his being
troubled at all hours on every day in the week.

"If it's anything particular I'll tell the minister you're here," she
used to say; "but he bade the bairns be quiet, and I doubt he wouldna
like to be disturbed. Sit down a minute, and I'll speak to Miss Graem