Edith looked her surprise, and the other children could not understand why all the fruit that formed should not be left on the tree to ripen.

“It is very often left,” replied their governess, “but, although the crop is a large one, it will be of inferior quality; and those who understand fruit-raising thin it out, so that the tree may not have more fruit than it can well nourish.  But now it is time for papa to come, and after dinner we will have a regular apple-talk.”

“How nice it was at Mrs. Grove’s to-day!” said Clara, when they were gathered for the talk.  “I think that kitchens are pleasanter to sit in than parlors and school-rooms.”

“So do I,” chimed in Edith; “but I was afraid about the crickets at first.  I thought we’d have to hold ’em in our hands, and I didn’t like that.”

Why would people always laugh when there was nothing to laugh at?  The little girl thought she had a very funny brother and sister, and Miss Harson, too, was funny sometimes.

“Have you so soon forgotten about the real insect-crickets, dear?” asked her governess, kindly.  “Why, it will be months yet before we see one.  Besides, I thought I told you that in some places a little bench is called a ’cricket’?—­Do you know, Clara, why you thought Mrs. Grove’s kitchen so pleasant?  It is larger and better furnished than kitchens usually are, there were pleasant people in it, and you were tired and hungry and ready to enjoy rest and refreshments; but I am quite sure that, on the whole, you would like your own quarters best, because you are better fitted for them, as Mrs. Grove is for hers.  We had a very pleasant visit, though, and some day we may repeat it—­perhaps when the apples are ripe.”

“Good! good!” cried the children, clapping their hands; and Malcolm added that he “would like to be let loose in that apple-orchard.”

“Perhaps you would like it better than Farmer Grove would,” was the reply.  “But we haven’t got to the apples yet; we must first find out a little about the tree.  We learn in the beginning that it was one of the very earliest trees planted in this country by the settlers, because it is both hardy and useful.  There is a wild species called the Virginia crab-apple, which bears beautiful pink flowers as fragrant as roses, but its small apples are intensely sour.  The blossoms of the cultivated apple tree are more beautiful than those of any other fruit; they are delicious to both sight and scent.”

“And do look, Miss Harson,” said Clara, “at these lovely half-open buds!  They are just like tiny roses, and so sweet!”

Down went Clara’s head among the clustered blossoms, and then Edith had to come too; and Malcolm declared that between the two they would smell them to death.