"I certainly do not," Ruth admitted. "I scratched my hands all up getting
the bucket full. Just fancy finding barberries still clinging to the
bushes in such quantities this time of the year."

"What good are they?" queried Helen, selecting one gingerly and putting it
into her mouth.

"Oh! Aunt Alvirah makes the loveliest pies of them--with huckleberries,
you know. Half and half."

"Where'll you find huckleberries this time of year?" scoffed Tom. "On the
bushes too?"

"In glass jars down cellar, sir," replied Ruth, smartly. "I did help pick
those and put them up last summer, in spite of all the running around we
did."

"Beg pardon, Miss Fielding," said Tom. "Go on. Tell us some more recipes.
Makes my mouth water."

"O-o-oh! so will these barberries!" exclaimed Helen, making a wry face.
"Just taste one, Tommy."

"Many, many thanks! _Good_-night!" ejaculated her brother, "I know
better. But those barberries properly prepared with sugar make a mighty
nice drink in summer. Our Babette makes barberry syrup, you know."

"Ugh! It doesn't taste like these," complained his sister. "Oh, folks!
there are those foolish actors again."