"Strange you should speak of it, Dirk," she replied. "It's many a day since I've given it a thought, till this very afternoon--when--" and here she gave a little smile half of apology for her own childishness, "I went up to the garret to look out of the end window, which has such a good view of the road, to see if the cart and you boys were in sight. And glancing up at the shelf, I missed something I was used to see there. It was the old toy hut with the man and the woman. It's all in pieces--just a crumbled heap, and no man nor woman to be seen. Maybe the cat's knocked it down." "Then it's no good," said Dirk, "for I don't think they make them now--not in England, anyway.--But, mother," he continued, "I've not seen little Merran yet. Where is she, and is she all right?" The dame started. "To be sure. I was forgetting about her," she said, "and she was here not five minutes ago. I told her to stay--not that she needed telling when it was to see you again, Dirk. Merran, child," she called, raising her voice, whereupon the little girl came forward shyly from the deep recess of the old-fashioned window where she had been partly hidden. "I did stay, auntie," she said. "I was only waiting for you and uncle to see Dirk first," and as she spoke, she held out her hand to the new-comer. He took it, but also stooped down to kiss her. "You've grown a bit, quite a tidy bit, little Merran," he said, "and you're looking well too--more colour in her cheeks, and so fresh and smart. Is that a new frock she's on, eh, mother?" His praise went far to reward the dame for the trouble she had given herself. She smiled, and catching Merran's eye, the smile was returned. "She's growing a big girl now, you see," said the aunt. "Old enough to be always tidy, and beginning to be handy too, we'll hope." "Yes," said the farmer, turning from the window where he had been standing looking out. "You can be useful in the hay-field now, child. If I did but know what the weather's like to be to-morrow, so as to begin!" "Uncle," exclaimed Merran eagerly. "It's going to be fine, very fine all to-day, and I'm almost sure all to-morrow, and I think for a lot of days." Her uncle glanced at her and gave a little laugh. "I hope you're right, child," he said. "But how should you know? You can't be a weather prophet at your age!" "I can't tell you how I know," began Merran, reddening a little, "but I feel----" and just then Dirk broke in, and what he said was very lucky, as, both then and afterwards, it served the good purpose of saving her from cross-questioning about her curious power.