Barbara laughed quietly, by and by telling Grace that this new article of furniture was hers, made on purpose for her by Horace. Grace could hardly believe it, for even a small extension table requires much mechanical skill. "O, but he has worked at it all the days for so long!" said Barbara, who was extremely proud of Horace. Upon inquiry, she confessed that he had been to see the "tischler" (joiner) "two times," and that Robin had helped him a little. "O, where's Horace?" cried Grace; "I want to see him this minute, to thank him for my beautiful present." "Sound abed and asleep," replied the German girl, yawning. When had Barby been known to sit up so late? Faithful creature, she had kept her sleepy eyes open for the sake of presenting this pretty table to Grace; for, as she said, "I just does like to hear her laugh!" "Deary me," thought Grace, "if I'd spoken up pettishly when she bothered me so, I'd want to bite my tongue out! Reckon I know of something as good for my 'nervous system' as quinine; and that's _patience_." CHAPTER IV. A SNAKE IN THE GRASS. Next morning, when Barbara was building the kitchen fire, she heard the sound of small boots, and, looking up, saw Horace, who had run down stairs in such haste that as yet he had put on but one sleeve of his jacket. "Ho, Barby!"--Horace considered it a waste of breath to say "good morning,"--"what were the first words she said?" "Let's me think," replied Barby, with an air of deep reflection. "'Where did this thing came from?' Them's the first words she said." "That all? Poh! If I'd known that, I wouldn't have touched to make it! Did you tell her Ike Davis couldn't? and he's learned the joiner's trade, too." "There, now, if I didn't forget to say dat!" "Why, Barby, I wouldn't have thought that of you, now!" "But she liked it. She was just as pleased." "Pleased, was she? Did she clap her hands?" "Yes; clapped 'em hard, she did, and laughed." "Will she put it in her cabinet, think, Barby?" "O, yes; she said it's what she did always want." Horace's face brightened like the moon sailing out of a cloud. Grace's cabinet held nothing but choice articles, and was kept as orderly as a paper of pins. "See here, Barby; you needn't tell Gracie I asked you any questions." When the children met that morning, Grace threw her arms about her brother's neck,-- "O, Horace, dear, there never was anything so nice as my little dining-table." "Poh!" exclaimed the boy, dipping, swallow-like, this way and that, to avoid a kiss. "Why, you dear little brother, mayn't I kiss you for thanks?" said the affectionate sister, trying to find a spot on his face which was not in motion. She succeeded at last in touching his forehead with her lips. "There, _once'll_ do," said Horace, impatiently; for he considered kissing an amiable weakness, and only submitted to it as a painful duty. "O, pshaw!" said he; "such a fuss over just nothing!"