will bring the jelly right into the last o' the week when there's
enough to do any way." One would have thought that Serena was being
forced into unpleasant duty, but this was her way of beginning a day's
pleasure, and Miss Leicester had been familiar with it for many years.

"He's goin' right off; puttin' the hosses in now; never gives nobody a
moment to consider," grumbled Serena, but Miss Leicester laughed and
bade the good soul hurry and get herself ready. There was nothing to be
done that day that Letty could not manage, or Letty's sister would come
over in the afternoon, or Mrs. Grimshaw, the extra helper who was
frequently on hand. "I think Jonathan is wise not to give you any more
time to think about it. There's no use in scouring the whole house
outside and in before you take a day's pleasure," she suggested
cheerfully.

"I like to have my mind at rest," responded Serena, but still there was
something unsaid. Betty's eyes were eager, but she considerately waited
for Serena to speak first. "You see, Miss Barb'ra, Jonathan's got to
take up the rag-bags, 't is most a year since I got 'em up to sister
Sarah's before, and they're in the way here, we all know, and I've got
some bundles beside, and I told Seth Pond to run out an' pick a mess o'
snap beans. Sister Sarah's piece is very late land and I s'pose she
won't have any; and Jonathan he knows when I start I fill up more than
the little wagon; so he's got the big one, and that makes empty seats,
an' Miss Betty was saying that when I was goin' up again"--

"You are base conspirators, both of you," said Aunt Barbara, much
amused. "It is a delightful day; the weather couldn't be better. Now
hurry, Betty, and don't keep Serena waiting."

"If it's so that you really want to go, Miss Betty."

"I do, indeed, Miss Serena," responded Betty with great spirit, and off
she ran up-stairs, while her aunt hurried to find something to send by
way of remembrance, not only to Serena's sister Sarah, but to Seth's
mother, who lived two miles this side.

There was great excitement for the next half hour. Everybody behaved as
if there were danger of missing a train, and Seth and Letty were sent
this way and that, and Serena gave as many last charges as if she meant
to be absent a fortnight, while Jonathan, already in the wagon, grumbled
at the delay and shouted to the horses if they so much as lifted a foot
at a fly. When they had fairly started he gave a chuckle of satisfaction