Page 132 (1/1)

"Your unco e you my word that I will stay only on one condition, and that is, that you let et supper and breakfast for you, and also read the paper aloud this evening I can see that you are tired and laree?"

"Can't very well help s the rheuood fur now is to have the rheumatiz in 'em So set plates for two, and fire ahead"

Haldane entered into his tasks with almost boyish zest "I've camped out in the woods, and am considerable of a cook," said he "You shall have some toast browned to a turn, to soak in your tea, and then you shall have some more with hot cream poured over it I'll shave the sh it"

"Umph! I can't see after dark any more than an old hen"

"How did you expect to read the paper then?" asked Haldane, without pausing in his labors

"I only read the headin's I ht as well make up the rest as the editors, fur then I can make it up to suit me It's all made up half the time, you know"

"Well, you shall hear the editors' yarns to-night then, by way of variety"

The oldfellow as he bustled from the cupboard to the table, and from the store-closet to the fireplace, with a kindly twinkle in his small eyes, froe coreater contrast than that between the headstrong and stalwart youth and the withered and eccentric herround on which all the world can meet and add somewhat to each other's welfare

The sound hard hich Haldane had just sawn into billets blazed cheerily on the hearth, filling the quaint old kitchen eird and flickering lights and shades Mr Growther was projected against the opposite wall in the aspect of a benevolent giant, and perhaps the large, kindly, but unsubstantial shadoas a truer type of the man than the shrivelled anato, no longer disquieted by doubts and fears, sat up and blinked approvingly at the preparation for supper The politic cat, now satisfied that any attentions to the stranger would not coht lead to another delicate s, and purred as affectionately as if she had known him all her life and would not scratch hi to her