"Thank you," said Ruth. "If Neale will get the ponies ready——"
"And while he's doin' so, I'll take a look at that dog's ear again," said Mr. Buckham, cheerfully. "Wouldn't want nothin' bad to happen to such a brave dog as Tom Jonah."
"He's layin' out behind my kitchen stove, and he behaves like a Christian," Posy declared.
"He's a gentleman, Tom Jonah is," said Tess, proudly. "It says so on his collar," and she proceeded to tell the good-natured maid-of-all-work Tom Jonah's history—how he had first come to the old Corner House, and all that he had done, and how his old master had once unsuccessfully tried to win him back.
"But he wouldn't leave us at all. Would he, Dot?" she concluded.
"Of course not," said the smallest girl. "Why should he? Aren't we just as nice to him as we can be? And he sleeps in the kitchen when it's cold, for Mrs. MacCall says he's too old to take his chances out of doors these sharp nights."
"That's very thoughtful of your Mrs. MacCall, I do allow," agreed the jolly invalid. "And do you suppose she will get your doll's cloak done in time for your call on Mrs. Eland?"
"My Alice-doll's cloak? I do hope so," said Dot, with a sigh of anxiety.
"Wouldn't you go to call on the lady without her, if the cloak shouldn't be done?" asked the farmer's wife, much amused.
"Oh, no! I couldn't do that," said Dot, gravely. "You see, I promised her."