"That's right," said a cheerful voice close behind them.
Mr. Curtis had come down from the hill, and was near enough to see all that had passed. When Bertie's face flushed with a desire to go, he felt inclined to step forward and remonstrate; but when he saw that his son yielded to the suggestions of conscience, his heart swelled with love and gratitude to the good Spirit who was leading Bertie into the path of peace.
"Oh, papa! Winnie had dood ride," exclaimed the little girl, running to take his hand.
"And what do you think about the new house, pet?" asked papa, taking her in his arms.
"Winnie don't want to do down there," she said, pointing her tiny finger to the deep cellar.
At this moment there was a great noise, which made the child cling closely to her father's neck. Jim had backed his oxen to the very edge of the bank, and pitched a load of stones down to the bottom of the cellar.
As Bertie looked over, he saw that all the gravel had been carried out; and now some men whom he had not seen before, were busy laying up the stones which Tom and Jim brought, in a nice, smooth wall.
"Have the diggers gone away, papa?" he asked.