"Would you like a drink, sir?" said Lill, taking a fresh cupful from her pail, and looking up at him with a bright smile.
"Thank you, I should very much! But I can't bear the thought of your lugging water from the spring for me."
"Why, Lilie!" said Cecie, softly, "you should have offered it to him first."
"I thought I did right to offer it to my sick sister first," replied Lill, with a tender glance at the lounge.
"You did right, my good little girl!" exclaimed Jack, giving back the cup. He looked from one to the other of the big boys, and wondered how they could witness this scene and not be touched by it. But he only said, "Have these young men too much Betterson blood in them to dress the fawn, if I leave it with you?"
"We'll fall back on our Dalton blood long enough for that," said Wad, taking the sarcasm in good part.
"A little young venison will do Cecie so much good!" said Mrs. Betterson. "You are very kind. But don't infer that we consider the Dalton blood inferior. I was pleased with what you said of Lavinia's native refinement. I feel as if, after all, she was a sister to be proud of."
At this last display of pitiful vanity Jack turned away.
"The idea of such a woman concluding that she may be proud of a sister like Vinnie!" thought he.
But he spoke only to say good by; for just then Link came riding the mare to the door.