called to his
old humpbacked house-keeper, 'tek the young ledy's oombrella an' spread
it oot to dray. Coom, coom in, Miss Tiny, an' set ye doon by the faire
an' dray yer faet, an' hev summat warm to kape ye from ketchin' coold.'

Mr. Bates led the way, stooping under the doorplaces, into his small
sitting-room, and, shaking the patchwork cushion in his arm-chair, moved
it to within a good roasting distance of the blazing fire.

'Thank you, uncle Bates' (Caterina kept up her childish epithets for her
friends, and this was one of them); 'not quite so close to the fire, for
I am warm with walking.'

'Eh, but yer shoes are faine an' wet, an' ye must put up yer faet on the
fender. Rare big faet, baint 'em?--aboot the saize of a good big spoon. I
woonder ye can mek a shift to stan' on 'em. Now, what'll ye hev to warm
yer insaide?--a drop o' hot elder wain, now?'

'No, not anything to drink, thank you; it isn't very long since
breakfast,' said Caterina, drawing out the comforter from her deep
pocket. Pockets were capacious in those days. 'Look here, uncle Bates,
here is what I came to bring you. I made it on purpose for you. You must
wear it this winter, and give your red one to old Brooks.'

'Eh, Miss Tiny, this _is_ a beauty. An' ye made it all wi' yer little
fingers for an old feller laike mae! I tek it very kaind on ye, an' I
belave ye I'll wear it, and be prood on't too. These sthraipes, blue an'
whaite, now, they mek it uncommon pritty.'

'Yes, that will suit your complexion, you know, better than the old
scarlet one. I know Mrs. Sharp will be more in love with you than ever
when she sees you in the new one.'

'My complexion, ye little roogue! ye're a laughin' at me. But talkin' o'
complexions, what a beautiful colour the bride as is to be has on her
cheeks! Dang my boottons! she looks faine and handsome o' hossback--sits
as upraight as a dart, wi' a figure like a statty! Misthress Sharp has
promised to put me behaind one o' the doors when the ladies are comin'
doon to dinner, so as I may sae the young un i' full dress, wi' all her
curls an' that. Misthress Sharp says she's almost beautifuller nor my
ledy was when she was yoong; an' I think ye'll noot faind man i' the
counthry as'll coom up to that.'

'Yes, Miss Assher is very handsome,' said Caterina, rather faintly,
feeling the sense of her own insignificance returning at this picture of
the impression Miss Assher made on others.

'Well, an' I hope she's goo