"And what do you propose to do with the old house?" said William. "We had better put some of our stores of least value in it for the present, until we can fit up another storehouse inside the stockade." "Then we'll put those casks in, for they take up a great deal of room." "All but that large one, William; we shall want that. I shall fix it up in a corner." "What for, Ready?" "To put water in." "But we are closer to the spring than we were at the other house." "I know that; but, perhaps, we may not be able to go out of the stockade, and then we shall want water." "I understand, Ready; how thoughtful you are!" "If at my age I did not think a little, William, it would be very odd. You don't know how anxious I am to see them all inside of this defence." "But why should we not come in, Ready?" "Why, sir, as there is still plenty of work, I do not like to press the matter, lest your mamma should be fidgeted, and think there was danger; but danger there is; I have a kind of forewarning of it. I wish you would propose that they should come in at once; the standing-bed places are all ready, except the canvas, and I shall nail on new by to-night." In consequence of this conversation, William proposed at dinnertime that the next day they should go into the new house, as it was so much more handy to work there and live there at the same time. Mr. Seagrave was of the same opinion, but Mrs. Seagrave thought it better that everything should be tidy first. "Why, ma'am," said Ready, "the only way to get things tidy is to go yourself and make them so. Nothing will ever be in its place unless you are there to put it in." "Well, Ready," said Mrs. Seagrave, "since you are against me as well as all the rest, I give it up. and if you please we will shift over to-morrow." "Indeed, ma'am, I think it will be better; this is the last month of fine weather, and we shall have plenty to do." "Be it so, Ready; you are the best judge; to-morrow we will take up our quarters in the stockade." "Thank God!" muttered Ready very softly.