"We waited for you, mother," said Jem, when he had placed her in the arm-chair, "because Meg thought as you'd like to see the things unpacked; they was put in by Mrs. MacDonald's own hands." "That I should," answered Mrs. Seymour heartily, drawing nearer to the table; "what is it?" "I don't know," answered Meg; "she called me in this morning and she said, 'Archer,'--you know it was only mother called me Meg at home; at mistress's I was always called Archer, so she said, 'Archer, I've put you in a few things to begin on, and so that you will not have to begin cooking at once. Remember, however, that a workman's wages will not buy these sort of things. It is only as a little wedding treat.'" "That's very true," said Mrs. Seymour, referring to the wages. "Ah, we know that," answered Meg cheerfully, with a bright glance at Jem; "but it's very kind of her all the same." By this time Jem had undone the strings, and the hamper lay open before them. First there were a couple of fine chickens all ready cooked, done up in a clean cloth; then there were some sausages; after that a blancmange in a basin; then a bottle of cream; and lastly, some fresh butter and a box of new-laid eggs. Underneath everything else was a flat parcel tied up in pieces of thin board. "A wedding present to Margaret Archer, as a mark of Mrs. MacDonald's esteem, wishing her and her husband every happiness." "Oh!" exclaimed Meg; "she said I should find her present at home! Jem, whatever can it be?" "I guess," said Jem, trying to get his fingers underneath it to lift it up. But he had to find another way, for the package resisted his efforts by sticking close to the bottom of the hamper as if it were glued. "It's mighty heavy," he said. And then they found that the strings had been so placed as to allow of its being easily lifted out by them. "A clock!" said Mrs. Seymour, delighted. "Oh, Jem, how I did want to get you a clock, but I could not manage it anyhow." He put his broad hand on hers gratefully. "I know, mother," he answered. "Don't ye think as I've eyes to see as all these things wasn't here when I left here last evening?" A sweet smile came over the worn face, and with almost an arch look she answered, "There's a certain bag in my drawer that used to be pretty heavy once, that I kept to buy things for 'Jem's wife.' It's empty now though." "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.