other day; she's lookin' poorly; her mother, I remember, went off in a
decline, the same year the Tories burnt down their barn, and I'm afeard
she's goin' the same way. But, yes! I guess there's one thing you'll
like to hear. Old-man Barton is goin' to put up a new wagon-house, and
Mark is to have the job."

"Law!" exclaimed Sally, "what's that to me?" But there was a decided
smile on her face as she put another loaf into the pan, and, although
her head was turned away, a pretty flush of color came up behind her
ear, and betrayed itself to Miss Lavender's quick eye.

"Nothin' much, I reckon," the latter answered, in the most
matter-of-fact way, "only I thought you might like to know it, Mark
bein' a neighbor, like, and a right-down smart young fellow."

"Well, I _am_ glad of it," said Sally, with sudden candor, "he's
Martha's cousin."

"Martha's cousin,--and I shouldn't wonder if he'd be something more to
her, some day."

"No, indeed! What are you thinking of, Betsy?" Sally turned around and
faced her visitor, regardless that her soft brunette face showed a
decided tinge of scarlet. At this instant clattering feet were heard,
and Joe and Jake rushed into the kitchen. They greeted their old friend
with boisterous demonstrations of joy.

"Now we'll have dough-nuts," cried Joe.

"No; 'lasses-wax!" said Jake. "Sally, where's mother? Dad's out at the