. He's got more gumption in his little finger than Jacob has in his
whole body;" and remembering that his grandfather was present, he
paused, and then added: "He'll make a spoon or spoil a horn, will Clif.
And, grannie, I'm hungry."

"Well, there is milk and bread in the pantry. Bring it to your brother,
Katie, as he's tired. And we'll hope, Davie lad, that the spoon will be
made and the horn no' spoiled. You're over ready with your judgments, I
doubt."

When Katie brought the bread and milk she ventured to ask some further
particulars as to arrangements.

"Oh, you'll hear all about it. You are on two or three committees at
least. No, I don't remember what they are. Setting tables, I think.
You'll hear all about it, and if you don't, then all the better," said
Davie shortly.

"And what have they given you to do? Surely they didna neglect the
general interest so far as to overlook you."

For when Davie took that line with Katie, grannie considered that he
needed to be put down a bit. Davie laughed. He understood it quite
well.

"No, grannie dear, I'm on two or three of their committees as well as
Katie--and so is half the town for that matter. And they think they are
doing it for `the cause,'" added Davie, laughing. "Grannie, I would
give something if I could write down every word just as it was spoken.
I never read anything half so ridiculous in a book."

"My lad, things are just as folk look at them. I daresay your friends
Ben, and Sam and Jim Scott saw nothing ridiculous about it till you made
them see it. And the master was there, and John McNider--"

"But the master didna bide long; and as for John--if you give him a
chance to make a speech, that is all he needs--"

"Whisht, Davie lad, and take the good of things. It is a good cause
anyway."

"Oh, grannie, grannie! as though the cause had anything to do with it,
at least with the most of them!"

"Well, never mind. You can take the good of the play without making
folk think it's for the cause. And you'll need to help the
preparations. As for Katie, I doubt I canna so well spare her--except
for the day itself."

The last few words had been between these two when the others had gone
out of the room. Grannie had a little of the spirit of which Katie had
a good deal. She was sociably inclined, and, though it troubled her
little that she or those belonging to her should be called odd, she know
it troubled Katie, and she wanted her to ha