"Perhaps I am wrong—but if you were first to suggest to your nephew that if he wished to make some return for the hospitality of his neighbors,—or put it in whatever form you think best,—would not that remove the 'offence' (though he surely cannot look at it in that light), and make him grateful and happy?"
"Well," said Rachel, after a little reflection, "if anything is done, that would be as good a way as any."
"And, of course, you won't mention me?"
"There is no call to do it—as I can see."
"Julia, dear!" cried Anna from the gate; "come and see the last load of hay hauled into the barn!"
"I should like to see it, if you will excuse me," said Miss Blessing to Rachel; "I have taken quite an interest in farming."
As they were passing the porch, Rachel paused on the step and said to Anna: "You'll bide and get your suppers?"
"I don't know," Anna replied: "we didn't mean to; but we stayed longer than we intended—"
"Then you can easily stay longer still."
There was nothing unfriendly in Rachel's blunt manner. Anna laughed, took Miss Blessing by the arm, and started for the barn. Lucy Henderson quietly turned and entered the house, where, without any offer of services, she began to assist in arranging the table.