"You don't read to him, such days?"
"He has had the reading—and he had his breakfast," said Cherry; "but he made me come down and take mine in the fresh air."
"And instead of doing it, you fall to reading again," said Magnus, reaching up his hand to the milk pitcher and filling her glass. "Please to begin at once."
"Please to have some too, then. There are more strawberries on the table inside."
"Two breakfasts to-day, against some other morning when I shall have none," said Magnus. "What are you waiting for? Something else I should get?" For Cherry sat lingering, and had not touched her spoon.
"Well?" Magnus repeated, watching her. He had a spoonful of berries on the way to his mouth, and still her hands had not stirred.
"But Magnus—you haven't—will you ask the blessing?" Cherry said.
The berries came down with a rush.
"Go on," he said, with an odd change in his voice. And Cherry bent her head and spoke the few sweet words as simply and gladly as if they were but a breath of native air. Magnus was stirred more than he cared to own.
"Heaven and earth come pretty close together where you are," he broke out, eating his berries and forgetting the sugar.