lacing the strangely fashioned box or casket carefully on a large
stone, Katharine flung herself down to tie her shoe. Which, having done,
and finding her position restful, it was natural that her imagination
should dwell upon the treasure she had found; and once at her
day-dreams, Kate was very apt to forget other things. Nor did she rouse
from her reverie till somebody close at hand demanded:

"I-I-I say! W-w-what's that?"

Instantly upon her feet she faced the intruder, vainly trying to hide
with her short skirts the glittering casket, as she demanded, in return:

"How dare you come upon a person that way? Why--you might have
frightened me into a fit. I don't like to be scared."

"Oh, f-f-fudge! I saw you if you d-d-didn't see me. What is t-t-that?"

Katharine coolly sat down upon the casket and thus effectually screened
it from view. "I thought you were sick, or--or shut up. Aunt Eunice went
to see if you needed nursing."

Montgomery sat down beside her. The small boulder upon which she had
placed the box was round, and it was difficult to maintain one's
position upon it without slipping. Doubly difficult if one were perched
upon a sharp-angled cube, and one's pique skirt was stiffly starched. He
comprehended the situation and meant to be upon the spot when the
slipping occurred. He really didn't care very much to know what she was
hiding, but was grateful for a chance to tease somebody.

During the few days of his retirement he had not enjoyed that privilege.
The fact was that it was Alfaretta, not he, who had been ill; and that
he had been promoted--or degraded--to her position in the household. It
all depended upon the point of view; his grandmother maintaining that he
should feel proud to have the chance of serving her, who was unable, or
unaccustomed to serving herself, and he feeling that to be tied up in a
girl's pinafore and with bared arms set to washing dishes, peeling
potatoes, and scrubbing floors was a disgrace. In vain did the stately
old gentlewoman show him by her example that one could cook and clean
and still be dignified; her grandson remained unconvinced and
rebellious. He didn't believe that poor Alfaretta was sick. He knew she
was shamming just to get out of her work and make him do it for her. And
as for his being set to carry trays to a bound-out girl from the
almshouse--that was the bitterest drop in his cup of woe. He had been
sternly prohibited from "hectoring" the little maid, and t