birds sing as they have today."

"Now I think of it, they have been tuning up wonderfully. Perhaps
they've an idea of my good luck," he added smilingly.

"I had thought of that about myself," she ventured. "I took a nap this
afternoon, and a robin sang so near the window that he woke me up. It
was a pleasant way to be waked."

"Took a nap, did you? That's famous! Well, well! This day's gone
just to suit me, and I haven't had many such in a good while, I can
tell you. I've got in a big strip of oats, and now, when I come in
tired, here's a good supper. I certainly shall have to be on the watch
to do Tom Watterly good turns for talking me into this business. That
taking a nap was a first-rate idea. You ought to keep it up for a
month."

"No, indeed! There's no reason why you should work hard and I be idle.
I've rested today, as you wished, and I feel better than I ever
expected to again; but tomorrow I must begin in earnest. What use is
there of your keeping your cows if good butter is not made? Then I
must be busy with my needle."

"Yes, that's true enough. See how thoughtless I am! I forgot you
hadn't any clothes to speak of. I ought to take you to town to a
dressmaker."

"I think you had better get your oats in," she replied, smiling shyly.
"Besides, I have a dressmaker that just suits me--one that's made my
dresses a good many years."

"If she don't suit you, you're hard to be suited," said he, laughing.
"Well, some day, after you are fixed up, I shall have to let you know
how dilapidated I am."

"Won't you do me a little favor?"

"Oh, yes! A dozen of 'em, big or little."

"Please bring down this evening something that needs mending. I am so
much better--"

"No, no! I wasn't hinting for you to do anything tonight."

"But you've promised me," she urged. "Remember I've been resting
nearly all day. I'm used to sewing, and earned my living at it.
Somehow, it don't seem natural for me to sit with idle hands."

"If I hadn't promised--"

"But you have."

"I suppose I'm fairly caught," and he brought down a little of the most
pressing of the mending.

"Now I'll reward you," she said, handing him his pipe, well filled.
"You go in the parlor and have a quiet smoke. I won't be long in
clearing up the kitchen."

"What! Smoke in the parlor?"

"Yes, why not? I assure you I don't mind it."

"Ha! Ha! Why didn't I think of it before--I might have kept the parlor
and smoked Mrs. Mump