“That'll do, that'll do,” roared Pete. “That's Grannie putting the fun on me.” “It's no use talking, but I can't keep quiet; no I can't,” cried Grannie, and with that she whipped up a bowl from the kitchen dresser and fell furiously to peeling the potatoes that were there for supper. “But where's Kate?” said Pete. “Aw, yes, where is she? Kate! Kate!” called Grannie, leaning her head toward the stairs, and Nancy Joe, who had been standing silent until now, said---- “Didn't she go to Ramsey with the gig, woman?” “Aw, the foolish I am! Of course she did,” said Grannie; “but why hasn't she come back with father?” “She left word at Crellin's not to wait,” said Cæsar. “She'll be gone to Miss Clucas's to try on,” said Nancy. “Wouldn't trust now,” said Grannie. “She's having two new dresses done, Pete. Aw, girls are ter'ble. Well, can you blame them either?” “She shall have two-and-twenty if she likes, God bless her,” said Pete. “Goodness me!” said Nancy, “is the man for buying frocks for a Mormon?” “But you'll be empty, boy. Put the crow down and the griddle on, Nancy,” said Grannie. “We'll have cakes. Cakes? Coorse I said cakes. Get me the cloth and I'll lay it myself. The cloth, I'm saying, woman. Did you never hear of a tablecloth? Where is it? Aw, dear knows where it is now! It's in the parlour; no, it's in the chest on the landing; no, it's under the sheets of my own bed. Fetch it, bogh.” “Will I bring you a handful of gorse, mother?” said Cæsar. “Coorse you will, and not stand chattering there. But I'm laving you dry, Pete. Is it ale you'll have, or a drop of hard stuff? You'll wait for Kate? Now I like that. There's some life at these totallers. 'Steady abroad?' How dare you, Nancy Joe? You're a deal too clever. Of course he's been steady abroad--steady as a gun.” “But Kate,” said Pete, tramping the sanded floor, “is she changed at all?” “Aw, she's a woman now, boy,” said Grannie. “Bless my soul!” said Pete. “She was looking a bit white and narvous one while there, but she's sprung out of it fresh and bright, same as the ling on the mountains. Well, that's the way with young women.” “I know,” said Pete. “Just the break of the morning with the darlings.” “But she's the best-looking girl on the island now, Pete,” said Nancy Joe. “I'll go bail on it,” cried Pete. “Big and fine and rosy, and fit for anything.” “Bless my heart!” “You should have seen her at the Melliah; it was a trate.” “God bless me!” “Sun-bonnet and pink frock and tight red stockings, and straight as a standard rase.” “Hould your tongue, woman,” shouted Pete. “I'll see herself first, and I'm dying to do it.” Cæsar came back with the gorse; Nancy fed the fire and Grannie stirred the oatmeal and water. And while the cakes were baking, Pete tramped the kitchen and examined everything and recognised old friends with a roar.