Mrs. Henderson, coming into the room at that moment, heard the remark, and her heart was won.  She had more than once had a suspicion that some of her visitors laughed at her treasured ornaments, and made jokes about them, and the thought had hurt her, for her affections clung to them, and particularly to the was fruit, which had been one of her most prized wedding gifts, so Betty’s remark went straight to her heart.  She beamed on Betty, and Betty beamed back on her.

“You have such a lot of beautiful things, Mrs. Henderson,” she said in her politest manner.  “I can’t help admiring them.”

“It’s very kind of you, I’m sure, miss.  Of course we all get attached to what’s our own, specially when ’tis gived to us; and I’m very proud of my fruit, same as I am of my worked pictures.”

“I think they are wonderful,” breathed Betty, turning from the wax fruit to gaze at Eli and Samuel.  “Did you”—­in a voice full of awe—­ “really work them yourself, Mrs. Henderson?”

“I did, missie, every stitch of them,” said their owner proudly; “and all while I was walking out with Henderson.”

“While you were walking!” gasped Betty.  “But how could you see where you were going?”

Mrs. Henderson laughed.  “No, missie; I mean the years we was courting.”

“How interesting,” said Betty solemnly.  “I think I shall work some for my house when I am married.  Do you work them on canvas?  Can I get it in Gorlay?”

“Yes, miss; but you needn’t hurry to begin to-night,” said Mrs. Henderson, laughing.  “If you want any help, though, when you do begin, or would like to copy mine, I’ll be very glad to do what I can for you.”

“Oh, thank you very much.  I should like to do some exactly like yours,” cried Betty excitedly.  “Then, when I’m far away, they’ll always remind me of you and the farm, and—­and I’d like to begin with Robert Bruce and his six toes, and—­”

“You would never have patience to do work like that,” interrupted Dan cruelly, “nor the money either; and I don’t suppose you will ever go out of Gorlay.”

“You wait,” said Betty, very much annoyed by his humiliating outspokenness.  “You wait”—­with a toss of her head—­“until I am grown up, then I shall marry some one, and I shall travel, and—­”

“All right,” said Dan, “I will wait; and I hope I never have a headache till it happens.”

CHAPTER VII.

THE “ROVER” TAKES THEM HOME.

Tony was nearly asleep on Kitty’s shoulder, and Kitty herself was distinctly drowsy, but the arrival of the teapot and the ham and eggs roused them effectually.  Kitty took her place before the tea-tray, Dan before the hot dish, Betty got as near the cream as she could, and Tony drew a chair close to Kitty, and very soon their spirits began to rise to their highest, and their tiredness vanished.  The tea was refreshing,