“Not in a green and yellow room,” laughed the Girl. “I'll tell you what I think. If I had a tea table to match the living-room furniture, and it sat beside the hearth, and on it a chafing dish to cook in, and the willow ware to eat from, we could have little tea parties in there, when we aren't very hungry or to treat a visitor. It would help make that room 'homey,' and it's wonderful how they harmonize with the other things.”
“How much willow ware have I got to 'bestow' on you?” inquired the Harvester. “Suppose you show me all of it. A guilty feeling arises in my breast, and I fear me I have committed high crimes!”
“Oh Man! You didn't break or lose any of those dishes, did you?”
“Show me!” insisted the Harvester.
The Girl arose and going to the cupboard he had designed for her china she opened it, and set before him a teapot, cream pitcher, two plates, a bowl, a pitcher, the meat platter, and a sugar bowl. “If there were all of the cups, saucers, and plates, I know where they would bring five hundred dollars,” she said.
“Ruth, are you getting even with me for poking fun at them, or are you in earnest?” asked the Harvester.
“I mean every word of it.”
“You really want a small, black walnut table made especially for those old dishes?”
“Not if you are too busy. I could use it with beautiful effect and much pleasure, and I can't tell you how proud I'd be of them.”
The Harvester's face flushed. “Excuse me,” he said rising. “I have now finished furnishing a house; I will go and take a peep at the engine.” He went into the kitchen and hearing the rattle of dishes the Girl followed. She stepped in just in time to see him hastily slide something into his pocket. He picked up a half dozen old white plates and saucers and several cups and started toward the evaporator. He heard her coming.