"Jem, we must have one of these fowls to-night for tea, because mother is here." "You're very kind, my dear," said Mrs. Seymour, "but I don't wish to eat up your good things." "Who should enjoy them if not you?" asked Meg heartily, quickly clearing away the papers and things, and placing the hamper tidily in a corner. She spread the cloth and set out the fowl on one of the dishes, putting the sausages round as a garnish; then she poured out some cream, and found a plate for the country butter, which quite ornamented the table, with its pretty cow resting on the circle of grass. "My mother put us in a loaf of her home-made bread," she exclaimed, turning to Jem; "can you get it out of my basket?" Jem laughed. It already stood on a plate at her elbow. "We are ready then, mother," said Meg, preparing to sit down at the tray. "Will you come to the table?" "I don't think you've made the tea yet, my dear," answered Mrs. Seymour smiling, as she glanced at the still steaming kettle. Meg looked disconcerted, but Jem only patted her cheek, and said tenderly, "We can't expect little wives to remember everything the first day, can we?" Meg had to ask where the tea was kept, and then they gathered round the table. Jem bent his head and asked their God to bless them now and always, and Mrs. Seymour added a gentle and solemn Amen. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER III. THE LOST BROOCH. Jem had been brought up as a painter, and had served his time in that trade. But painters are often slack, as he knew to his cost; and when he had nothing much to do he used to employ his fingers in another way. Besides, there were long evenings and half holidays when he could pursue the avocation which he liked much better than even painting. During the years in which he had been learning his trade he had been thrown with carpenters and builders of every class, and he soon had made up his mind that he would learn all he could, so that, should the opportunity ever come, he should know how to be a builder himself. But times had not as yet been propitious, and at twenty-five he found himself still only a painter, with a very fair knowledge of carpentering into the bargain. About a year ago he had been taken on as a permanent hand at a large decorating-house, who undertook work in the country; and Jem, valued for his trustworthiness and general ability, was often sent as one of those who knew his own trade well, and also could turn his hand to several others. Thus it came to pass in the early spring of this same year he had been sent to help in repairing Mrs. MacDonald's handsome house, and had stayed there for two months. He had soon met with Meg, and had been struck with her gentle modesty of demeanour. Hitherto the girls he had met had been dressed to the very utmost of their means, and had behaved in a flighty, loud manner which grated on his feelings.