he bottom of the wagon, because you will not know where to find
it, and Mr. Wallis said that a horse could not do heavy draught work on
grass feed."

"I should think not," replied Tom, with such an air of knowing all about
it as made his mother glow with pleasure, for Tom's shyness was a real
trouble to her, she never having been afflicted in that way herself.
"The horse shall have a corn feed, Miss, but it will be our corn and not
yours; that will do for to-morrow or the next day."

"Of course we don't let people feed themselves or their beasts when they
come here!" echoed Mrs. Warner, taking hold of Nealie and forcibly
leading her into the house, while the others trouped after them.

What a crowd they made in the canvas-walled kitchen. And what a supper
they ate, sitting round the table eating scones and butter, with
delicious raspberry jam. Amy, the stylish sister, made a fresh batch of
scones, and cooked them in the oven, while the rosy-cheeked Bella went
walking with her friend, who proved to be a good-looking young farmer,
living farther up the valley.

The girls slept in the wagon that night, but the boys carried their
mattresses into the big hay barn, because it threatened rain, and, as
Mrs. Warner said, it was much easier to keep dry than to dry up after
getting wet.

About midnight the rain came down at a pour; it rained until morning,
when it came down faster than ever, and Mrs. Warner would not hear of
their moving on. She said that Rockefeller certainly could not drag the
wagon through the loose mud of the track, and if they got out to walk
they would all catch bad colds, entailing no end of misery and
discomfort on them all, and the only sensible thing to do was to stay in
the Holderness Valley for another day, and the weather would be sure to
be better to-morrow.

This was such common-sense advice that Nealie was very glad to take it,
although she felt rather embarrassed, because it looked so much like
sponging on the generosity of their kind hostess.

The younger ones were all delighted to stay, and Sylvia entered herself
at once as an apprentice to the dairy business by taking a lesson in
milking, and Mrs. Warner declared that when Bella was married to her
friend who lived higher up the valley, Sylvia could come to the farm and
fill the vacant place, earning her keep, and a good deal more besides.

The boys turned the handle of the separator, and made themselves
generally useful. But Nealie wen