ver thought on't."

"Now, ain't that a sight!" said Jacob, reprovingly. "I thought I could
trust you not to let 'em starve, mother, but yet someways I felt I ought
to bring the apples myself. I dono's they're fit to eat, though."

Still beaming shy benevolence, he brought from behind him a basket of
beautiful rosy apples, every one of which had evidently been polished
with care--and the sleeve of his coat.

"Oh, what perfect beauties!" cried the girls. "Oh, thank you, Jacob!"

"What kind are they?" asked Peggy. "They _are_ good!" Peggy never lost a
moment in sampling an apple, and her teeth now met in the firm, crisp
flesh with every sign of approval.

"Benoni! about the best fall apple there is, round these parts; that is,
for any one as likes 'em crips. Some prefer a sweet apple, but I like a
fruit that's got some sperit in it, same as I do folks. Well, I wish you
all good appetite; I must be goin' back to my hoein' lesson, I guess."

"Oh! Jacob, have you seen Jerry and Phil, lately?" asked Gertrude.

"No, I ain't. Yes I hev, too. They went rocketin' past me this noon, and
give me some sarse as they went, and I give it 'em back. I ain't seen
'em sence. They're up to mischief, wherever they be, you can count on
that."

Jacob diffused his smile again, and withdrew. The girls, still eating
their apples, turned eagerly to Mrs. Meadows. "Now, Mrs. Meadows," they
said, "we must go on with our lesson. Margaret, sit down and learn with
us; you know you want to learn."

"Indeed, I do!" said Margaret. "But I don't think I'd better now, girls.
Willy came up with me, and he is waiting for me outside; I promised to
look at a nest he has found, and I don't like to disappoint him. May I
come some other day, please, Mrs. Meadows?"

"Well, I guess you may!" said Mrs. Meadows. "Sorry to have ye go now,
but glad to see ye next time, and so you'll find it nine days in the
week, Miss Montfort. Good day to ye, if ye must go."

Margaret shook the good woman's hand, nodded gaily to the girls, and
went out, to find Willy sitting patiently on the fence.

"Was I a very long time, Willy?" she asked. "I thought you might have
got out of patience and gone home."

"No!" said Willy, soberly. "You were a good while, but then, girls
always are. When a fellow has sisters, you know, he gets used to
waiting."

"Oh! indeed!" said Margaret, much amused.

"Yes," said Willy. "I don't think girls have much idea of time, do you?"

"Why, Will