hours were her own to be spent in whatever manner her fancy
pleased. It was an unheard-of freedom. Never since she had come to Sefton
Falls had she known such a long stretch of liberty. What wonder that she
swung along with feet scarce touching the earth!

A redwing called from the bracken bordering the brook, and the girl called
back, trying to mimic its glad note. She snatched a flower from the
roadside and tucked it in her hair; she laughed audaciously into the
golden face of the sun. Her exuberance was mounting to ecstasy when she
rounded a curve and suddenly, without warning, came face to face with Jane
Howe.

The woman was proceeding with extreme care, carrying in either hand a
large and well-heaped pail of berries.

Before Lucy thought, she stepped forward and exclaimed impulsively:

"Do let me help you! They must be dreadfully heavy."

"'Tain't so much that they're heavy," Jane answered, smiling, "as that
they're full. I'm afraid I'll spill some."

"Give me one pail."

"Do you really mean it?"

"Of course. I'd be glad to take it."

"All right," replied Jane simply. "I'm sure I'd be only too thankful if
you would. After trampin' miles to pick raspberries, you ain't so keen on
losin' 'em when you're within sight of home."

"Indeed you're not," Lucy assented. "These are beauties. Where did you go
for them?"

"Most up to the pine ridge you see yonder. I took my lunch an' have been
gone since mornin'."

"How I wish I could have gone with you!"

"Would you have liked to?" queried Jane incredulously. "Then I wish you
might have. It was just the sort of a day to walk. I don't s'pose, though,
your aunt would have spared you for an all-day picnic."

There was a hint of scorn in the words.

"I don't often have time to go far from the house," replied Lucy gently,
ignoring Miss Howe's challenge. "There is so much to do."

"So there is," agreed Jane hastily. "Certainly we manage to keep busy all
the time. When it ain't one thing, it's another. There never seems to be
any end to it. But I did steal off to-day. The berries were really an
excuse. Of course we can make 'em into jam. Still, what I really wanted
was to get out in the air."

"I've stolen off too," said Lucy, with a smile. "My aunt and Tony have
gone over to the Crossing for lumber and won't be back until dark, so I am
having a holiday."

Jane was silent a moment.

"Why shouldn't you come over and have tea with us then?" she asked
abruptly.