A rough-coated pony formed part of the establishment.  Twice a week he was harnessed to the trap, and Miss Carson and one of the students drove to Seaton to dispose of the farm produce.  Miss Carson had undertaken to supply several hotels and restaurants with eggs, fowls and vegetables, and so far had found the demand for her goods exceeded the supply.  Labor was at present her greatest difficulty.  Her students accomplished the light work, but could not do heavy digging.  She managed to secure the occasional services of a farm hand, but with most able-bodied men at the war the problem of trenching or of making an asparagus bed was almost impossible to solve.

At the end of the orchard, against a south hedge of thick holly, stood the hives.  Bee-keeping was one of the most successful ventures of the holding.  Last autumn had shown a splendid yield of honey, and this year, judging by the activity of the bees, an equal harvest might be expected.  There was continuous humming among the apple blossoms, and every minute pollen-laden workers were hurrying home with their spoils.  Miss Heald lifted the lid of one of the hives, to show Winona the comb within.  She observed caution, however.

“They don’t know me very well,” she explained.  “They have their likes and dislikes.  Miss Hunter can let them crawl all over her hands and arms, and they never sting her.  She must have a natural attraction for them.  They recognize a stranger directly.  No, I’m not particularly fond of them.  I prefer pigs and chickens.”

Miss Carson and Aunt Harriet had also been going the round of the farm, and came up to inspect the hives.  Miss Beach was greatly interested in her friend’s work, and full of congratulations.

“Such women as you are the backbone of the country!” she declared.  “The next best thing to fighting is to provide food for the nation.  England is capable of producing twice her annual yield if there is proper organization.  I’m a great advocate of small holdings, and I think women can’t show their patriotism better than by going ‘back to the land.’  You and your students are indeed ‘doing your bit’!  You make me want to come and help you!”

It was such a delicious warm afternoon that chairs were carried outside, and they had tea in the garden under a gorgeous pink-blossomed almond tree, with the perfume of wallflowers and sweet scented stocks wafted from the rockery above.  Two cats and a dog joined the party, also an impudent bantam cock, who, being considered the mascot of the establishment, was much petted, and allowed certain privileges.  He would sit on Miss Carson’s wrist like a little tame hawk, and she sometimes brought him into the garden at tea-time to give him tit-bits.

At 4.30 all the fowls and chickens were fed, a tremendous business, at which Winona looked on with enthusiasm.  She admired the systematic way in which the food was measured and distributed so that each individual member of the flock received its due share, and was not robbed by a greedier and stronger neighbor.  She was very reluctant to leave when Miss Beach at last brought round the car.