f boots to offer for the heavy waders, for outer
comfort, a glass of cold buttermilk and a bench on which to rest, in
the circular arbour until dinner was ready. Philip Ammon splashed in
the water. He followed to the stable and exchanged boots there. He was
ravenous for the buttermilk, and when he stretched on the bench in the
arbour the flickering patches of sunlight so tantalized his tired eyes,
while the bees made such splendid music, he was soon sound asleep. When
Elnora and her mother came out with a table they stood a short time
looking at him. It is probable Mrs. Comstock voiced a united thought
when she said: "What a refined, decent looking young man! How proud his
mother must be of him! We must be careful what we let him eat."

Then they returned to the kitchen where Mrs. Comstock proceeded to be
careful. She broiled ham of her own sugar-curing, creamed potatoes,
served asparagus on toast, and made a delicious strawberry shortcake.
As she cooked dandelions with bacon, she feared to serve them to him, so
she made an excuse that it took too long to prepare them, blanched some
and made a salad. When everything was ready she touched Philip's sleeve.

"Best have something to eat, lad, before you get too hungry," she said.

"Please hurry!" he begged laughingly as he held a plate toward her to be
filled. "I thought I had enough self-restraint to start out alone, but
I see I was mistaken. If you would allow me, just now, I am afraid I
should start a fever again. I never did smell food so good as this. It's
mighty kind of you to take me in. I hope I will be man enough in a few
days to do something worth while in return."

Spots of sunshine fell on the white cloth and blue china, the bees and
an occasional stray butterfly came searching for food. A rose-breasted
grosbeak, released from a three hours' siege of brooding, while his
independent mate took her bath and recreation, mounted the top branch of
a maple in the west woods from which he serenaded the dinner party with
a joyful chorus in celebration of his freedom. Philip's eyes strayed to
the beautiful cabin, to the mixture of flowers and vegetables stretching
down to the road, and to the singing bird with his red-splotched breast
of white and he said: "I can't realize now that I ever lay in ice packs
in a hospital. How I wish all the sick folks could come here to grow
strong!"

The grosbeak sang on, a big Turnus butterfly sailed through the arbour
and poised over