It was a pleasant old farmhouse that, in spite of its deserted condition. They went to the kitchen, bright with windows looking out to grass fields and trees. Mrs. Derrick stood at open door and window, recalling scenes and people she remembered there, or watching for the big wagon to make its appearance; while Reuben and Faith went to the outhouses, and finally by dint of perseverance found a supply of wood in an old rotten tumbled-down fence. Mrs. Derrick proclaimed that the wagon was coming, as the foragers returned; but there was a splendid blaze going up chimney before the aforesaid conveyance drew up at the door, and the whole first party turned out to see it unload. The wagon was unloaded in the twinkling of an eye; then came rummaging for baskets; then so many boys and so many baskets hopped and hummed round, like a little bevy of wasps--with nothing at least of the bee business-character about them. "Mr. Linden, be we going to stop here?"-- "Is here where the trees be, Mr. Linden?"-- "Mr. Linden, Joe Deacon aint behaving nohow!" "Mr. Linden, will we leave our baskets and come back to the house? or will they be to go along?"--inquired a more sober tongue. While others were giving their opinion in little asides that it was 'prime'--and 'fust-rate'--and arguing the comparative promise of chestnut and hickory trees. And one of the bigger boys of the party, _not_ distinguished for his general good qualities, sidling up to Reuben, accosted him under breath with a sly, "So you druv Mr. Linden's sweetheart. Aint you spry!" If Reuben had been in that line, he would probably have sent the offender head first down the bank,--as it was, he said quietly, "I wouldn't let Mr. Linden hear me say that, Phil, if I was you." "Don't mean ter. Aint you great! But I say,--Joe Deacon says you did." "Joe Deacon's made a mistake for once in his life," said Reuben rather contemptuously--"and it isn't the first, by several." "Reuben," said Mr. Linden approaching the group, "you may all go and find where the best trees are, and then come back and report to me. I put you in charge. Understand"--he added, raising his voice a little, "Reuben Taylor is leader of the search--whoever does not obey his orders, does not obey mine."--And in a minute the courtyard was clear. Then Mr. Linden turned and walked up to the house. "Now what are you ladies going to do with yourselves?" he said. "Will you come out and sit under the trees and look on--taking the chance of being hit by a stray nut now and then?" "We can't go wrong to-day," said Faith, with whom the spirit of enjoyment was well at play. "When mother feels in the mood of it we'll come. We can find you--we know where to look. Weren't you obliged to us for doing the waiting at the ferry?"