Part 2 (1/2)
”For me?” asked Meg; and then she blushed so much that she had to help Jem very industriously to undo the knots in the strings.
”For you,” answered her mother-in-law.
And when Jem lifted out the present, they found it was a very nice clock, which would strike the hours.
”Shall I move this on one side?” asked Meg, touching the vase in the centre of the mantel-shelf.
”Put it on the chiffonier,” said Jem, placing the clock where she had made room for it. ”Don't it look handsome?”
After they had all admired it till they had no more words at their command, Meg turned to the basket again.
”Jem, we must have one of these fowls to-night for tea, because mother is here.”
”You're very kind, my dear,” said Mrs. Seymour, ”but I don't wish to eat up your good things.”
”Who should enjoy them if not you?” asked Meg heartily, quickly clearing away the papers and things, and placing the hamper tidily in a corner.
She spread the cloth and set out the fowl on one of the dishes, putting the sausages round as a garnish; then she poured out some cream, and found a plate for the country b.u.t.ter, which quite ornamented the table, with its pretty cow resting on the circle of gra.s.s.
”My mother put us in a loaf of her home-made bread,” she exclaimed, turning to Jem; ”can you get it out of my basket?”
Jem laughed. It already stood on a plate at her elbow.
”We are ready then, mother,” said Meg, preparing to sit down at the tray. ”Will you come to the table?”
”I don't think you've made the tea yet, my dear,” answered Mrs. Seymour smiling, as she glanced at the still steaming kettle.
Meg looked disconcerted, but Jem only patted her cheek, and said tenderly,
”We can't expect little wives to remember everything the first day, can we?”
Meg had to ask where the tea was kept, and then they gathered round the table.
Jem bent his head and asked their G.o.d to bless them now and always, and Mrs. Seymour added a gentle and solemn Amen.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER III.
THE LOST BROOCH.
Jem had been brought up as a painter, and had served his time in that trade. But painters are often slack, as he knew to his cost; and when he had nothing much to do he used to employ his fingers in another way.
Besides, there were long evenings and half holidays when he could pursue the avocation which he liked much better than even painting.
During the years in which he had been learning his trade he had been thrown with carpenters and builders of every cla.s.s, and he soon had made up his mind that he would learn all he could, so that, should the opportunity ever come, he should know how to be a builder himself.