Temperance rubbed her eyes.
“The morning sun do dazzle,” she said, giving unsought explanation of the moisture in her eyes.
“Better set right down and have breakfast,” said old Mr. Lansing. “The young folks is turrible lazy, it seems to me, nowadays.”
“Oh, not all of them,” said Sidney. “Look at Temperance.”
Old Lansing chuckled delightedly.
“Nathan Peck had better look out, Temp’rins; I allus did say you had a way with the men.”
Temperance tossed her head, well pleased.
“Will you have your eggs fried or biled?” she asked Sidney, the blush upon her gaunt cheek giving her a sadly sweet look of girlhood.
Old Lansing finished his breakfast and pushed back his chair.
“You’ll excuse me,” he said, “but I’ve been up since cock-crow, and I hav’n’t done a blessed thing but water the cows. The men are in the barn now waiting. Temp’rins ’ll give you breakfast. I’ll warrant the girls will be surprised when they get down. Lazy critturs! Temp’rins, why don’t you wake ’em up?”