r I could. We should have to explain who we were
and by what right we came and demanded the family tea-kettle."

Audrey demurred, blushing at the mere idea, and she blushed again when,
Peter and his two riders returning, she saw Mr. Vivian waving the old
kettle triumphantly.

"Oh," she cried impatiently, "I did think Mary would have had the sense to
wrap it up!"

"I wouldn't let her. I told her not to do anything more than tie a piece
of paper round its smutty sides. Now, while we are mounted, don't you
think it would be a good plan for us to ride over to the cottage and get
the kettle filled? I like to be useful," as all protested against his
taking this trouble. "You see, I feel that if I do something for it I
shall be able to ask boldly for a second cup of tea." And the old
gentleman rode away laughing, as full of enjoyment as any of them.

Now at last things promised to go right. In a very short time the kettle,
filled with water, was hanging over a blazing fire of sticks and furze,
and Mr. Vivian had ridden away to borrow a pitcherful of water in case the
kettle required to be filled again, as it almost certainly would.
A new site was chosen for the tea-table and the cloth was spread.
Daphne brought sprigs of heather and grasses and green ferns to decorate
the table with. Keith, with Tom helping him, worked like a Trojan at
stoking the fire, and Audrey was glad that someone else undertook that
smutty, eye-smarting business, or her hands and her dress would have been
as grubby as theirs probably, before she had done.

Irene was taking cups and saucers, plates and dishes from Faith as she
unpacked them, and arranging them on the table.

"But you are the guests," said Audrey presently, "you mustn't bother about
helping. Faith and I ought to do all that."

"Oh, but I love to. Do you mind?" Irene looked round, a swift delicate
colour mounting to her cheeks.

"Mind!" Audrey knew as well as possible that she could never have
arranged such a dainty, alluring-looking tea table, as was every minute
growing in attractiveness before her eyes. She knew how it should look
when done, but Irene knew how to do it. Audrey did think though that she
would like to be of some use. She was feeling rather snubbed and very
much out of things.

Irene saw it and drew back a little. "I am afraid--I did not mean to--to
be bossy," she added, colouring again more warmly. "I only wanted to
help," and she pushed towards