Part 3 (1/2)

Sunnycrest was a big white house on the top of a ridge. In front, except for a wide square of green lawn just before the house, the grounds sloped so steeply that terraces had been made every few yards, and at the bottom ran a delightful little brook. At the bottom of the hill were the farmhouse, barn, chicken and cow-houses and, where the brook curved and ran through a shallow, cemented basin, the spring-house and dairy.

Behind the house was a big orchard and beyond stretched fields of grain and hay.

Christopher jumped down from the wagon almost before it stopped and rushed into the kitchen where Jane's bobbed head could be seen, topped with a big pink bow. Huldah the cook was another old and very dear friend of the children's.

”Hullo, Huldah. Got any ginger cakes?” shouted Christopher. ”My stomach just aches for one of your spiced ginger cakes. Haven't had one for two years, you know.”

”I'm afraid your stomach will ache still more before you are through,”

mildly observed grandmother, who had followed him in.

But she did not forbid his eating the cakes, even though supper was almost ready. That is one of the privileges of growing old enough to be a grandmother.

The two horses had brought the carriage home at a much quicker rate than the heavily loaded wagon could travel and Jane had already explored the whole place in her quiet, energetic way. She had learned all the news regarding live stock new and old and had petted all her favorites. Dora the cat was specially friendly and Jane was convinced that the little animal remembered her from her former visit, two years before.

”I think that's quite remarkable in a cat, don't you, grandmother?” she said. ”Now, if it was Juno, I shouldn't be so surprised. Dogs always remember people. But with cats, it's different.”

There were no kittens at present, but Huldah described past families with much detail. She had kept a written account of the color and name of each kitten and its fate. Most of the kittens had been given away or disposed of in their early infancy. Some, grown to cat-hood, disported themselves about the stables with a serene indifference to the house privileges of their mamma, and with a keen taste for rats-certainly not inherited from her. Dora was far too aristocratic to care for any food less appetizing than fresh milk and bits of cooked meat, cut into dainty morsels.

Juno had four new puppies, dear little fuzzy b.a.l.l.s of fur; and there were two new calves-with such thin wabbly legs and big, scared eyes-in the barnyard. Six patiently setting hens promised dozens of fluffy chicks before long, and a brood of ducklings swam in the stable pond.

Jane had taken in all these marvels and her little brain was busy choosing names for the new puppies while grandmother washed her face and tidied her hair for supper.

She gave Christopher the news as they munched ginger cakes together.

Jane had not thought to ask for the cakes but when they came she ate almost as many as Christopher.

”The pups are awfully cunning,” she said patronizingly. ”And I know just where Juno keeps them. I'll take you to see them in the morning.”

”Huh, I can find them myself. I'm going now. And I choose to name two of 'em.”

”They're all named; every single one. And you can't go to see them now, 'cause supper's ready.”

”Who named them, I'd like to know? If you did it don't count, 'cause it's not fair to go and name all four, without asking me.”

”If you choose to go off with a strange boy, how can I ask you? Those pups are three weeks old and they just had to be named. They're real nice names,” she added hastily, as Christopher made for the door.

”They--”

”Kit, Kit,” called his grandmother, ”go up-stairs and wash your hands.

Supper is ready.”

”And waffles are no good when they have to stand,” added Huldah meaningly.

This hint was enough to send Christopher at a flying leap up the front stairs.

”I'll show you the pups in the morning,” repeated Jane with exasperating calmness, following and watching his hasty ablutions from the bath-room door.

”Humph!” answered Christopher with ingrat.i.tude, as he splashed the water resentfully. ”I guess I can find the pups easy enough-if I want to see 'em. And I know something you don't know. A circus is coming to town next week, so there!”

”I did know it, but it's not coming for two weeks. There's a lovely horseback rider in it and grandfather said perhaps he'd take us,”