Right in the middle of a fine story, Grandfather came into the room and asked, “Isn’t there going to be any dinner to-day?” And sure enough it was five minutes to twelve o’clock!

Grandmother jumped up and hurried to the kitchen and Grandfather said, “Well, isn’t it too bad it’s a rainy day?”

“Rainy?” exclaimed Mary Jane, for she’d forgotten all about the rain and her lonesomeness of the early morning.  “Rainy?  Why, Grandfather!  Rainy days are the best days of all when they’re days at Grandmother’s house!”

GARDENING WITH GRANDFATHER

“This sewing business and feeding chickens and watching mice is all very well,” said Grandfather one day, “but I’d like to know where I come in?  If it wasn’t for having good company at meal time and for about ten minutes after supper in the evening, I’d never guess I had a little granddaughter visiting me—­I wouldn’t, indeed!”

Mary Jane looked very serious.  She wasn’t quite certain sure whether Grandfather was really disappointed in her or whether he was only teasing.

Grandmother saw she was puzzled and helped her out by saying, “Very well, Mr. Hodges, then you should find something your little great granddaughter likes to do!” And from the way Grandmother’s eyes twinkled, Mary Jane knew that she understood Grandfather was only teasing.  And, oh, dear, but she was relieved!  It’s fine to go visiting; but it’s dreadful to be visiting and disappoint folks; and Mary Jane was glad to know she hadn’t.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing, my dear,” laughed Grandfather.  “I’m finding something.”

“Are you really, Grandfather,” cried Mary Jane happily.  “Let’s go do it now!  I’m all through my dessert; may I please be excused, Grandmother?” and Mary Jane prepared to slip down from her chair.

“No use,” said Grandfather with a shake of his head.  “It isn’t ready yet.”

“Not ready?” echoed Mary Jane.  “Does it have to be ready before we do it?”

“It surely does,” laughed Grandfather, “That’s the reason we haven’t done it before.”

“But I think I’ll like it without being ready,” suggested Mary Jane as she went around to his chair.  “Let’s see if I wouldn’t.”

“No, sir, you can’t tease me that way, Pussy,” laughed Grandfather.  “You’ll have to wait.”

“Is it alive?” asked Mary Jane, who by this time was fairly bubbling over with curiosity.

“Well, yes,” replied Grandfather and he chuckled to himself in high glee.

“Is it big as me?” asked Mary Jane.

“One way ’tis and another way ’tisn’t,” said Grandfather.

“Oh, dear!” sighed Mary Jane, “that’s the kind I never can guess!” Then she thought carefully for a real good question.  “Is it brown or gray?”

Grandfather leaned back and laughed.  When he finally could answer he said, “It’s partly grayish brown and some day it may be all brown for a’ I know.”