the
dining room, and to have things shoveled out of the kettle on your
plate or cold on a dish! Sometimes puddings were good, and the creams
and frozen things were clean and nice. But I'm so glad to get back to
you. And the lovely bath room! We didn't have any in the cottage. Why
it saves half the work taking care of babies."

"You bet it does, I couldn't and wouldn't live in such a muxy kitchen.
If I couldn't have things to suit I'd take French leave, though I
guess I'd call it Irish leave. And people, women, think it a fine
thing to go off and live that way. But the boss got very tired of
it."

Marilla laughed faintly. She was almost too tired to eat, but the
chicken was so tasty, and the fresh home-made bread delightful. And
the cheery voice put heart in the girl. Then the dessert was
delicious.

"I promised to take Aunt Hetty a cup of milk. I'll see first if Mrs.
Borden wants me. But I'll dry the dishes for you."

"No, dear, I did the most of them while you were up stairs."

The babies had been put to bed. They did have an unlimited capacity
for sleep, now that they were well. Jack was perched on his father's
knee detailing some wonderful adventures. No, they did not need her.

"I'm going in next door awhile," said Bridget on her return. "Mrs.
Dawson's girl left in a huff, and she asked me if I knew anyone. And
there was my friend, Maggie Brady, just out of a place and a nice tidy
girl; a good cook, too. So they both suited. Maggie's mother and mine
lived in the same town. It's nice to have a friend at hand. And when
ye's through with the old lady I'd run to bed. You look tired as a
wagon wheel that's run round and round."

Marilla laughed and took a bottle of milk with her. Aunt Hetty drank a
good cupful, hot, and the remainder was set out on the window sill.
Then she settled herself in bed with two pillows under her head; she
could hear better she thought.

"Now, you open that book at the mark and read to me. 'Twon't be very
interesting, for you can't know what's gone before. And no doubt I'll
fall asleep--I always snore a little at first, and when you hear that
you may light the burner in the other room and turn it very low and
put the window down from the top and skip off to yourself."

She was very tired but she read quite awhile before the gentle snoring
began, and she was glad enough to go to bed.

They had been home just a week when school opened. It was a comfort to
get rid of Jack. They began