behind the hospitable, self-respecting air of the little household, and
she managed in many delicate ways to assist them.

Feeling instinctively that there must be no hint of remuneration to Sara
for her really valuable services as guide to her husband, she struck up
a trade in wild-flowers, delicate algae, and shells with Molly, buying
all that the child could bring her (and the little girl was famous for
these findings), afterwards teaching her to mount them in exquisite
designs on Bristol-board for possible future customers.

Morton, too, was paid a liberal percentage on fishing-tackle, etc., so
that among them all the wolf was kept decidedly at bay, and Sara felt
every night like adding a special thanksgiving to her prayers, because
she was not forced to ask a loan of Squire Scrantoun.




CHAPTER VII.

A TEA-PARTY.


Meanwhile, she was learning to systemize her time so as to make the most
of it, and, given a fresh impetus in her studies by this new
companionship, spent the days so busily she scarcely had time, till
night laid her on her pillow, to wonder where father might be, and when
he would return.

So far, with the exception of the storm which had proven so fatal to her