The invitation was accepted, so there was a grand “clean-up” of the big house-place (not that it seemed to need it!), and there was a great baking of cakes and fruit-pies. The best china and table-linen were got out, together with some really fine old silver, and when the guests arrived the table was already laid for tea.
Minnie had picked a huge bunch of dahlias and placed them in a beautiful old china jug in the center of the table, which was loaded with good things, for tea was a genuine meal at Pickett’s Farm.
Pickett was performing his ablutions in the big kitchen that joined the house-place, where there was a long sink with a pump at one end of it. Mrs. Pickett and Minnie were “dressed for company.”
A big log fire burned cheerfully in the old-fashioned fireplace, making the brass and copper utensils glitter and flash. The “settle” and some high-backed arm-chairs were drawn up near the fire. Altogether the place looked the picture of hospitality and comfort. A sweet scent of apples was perceptible in the air. A bob-tailed sheep-dog and a collie lay asleep upon a rug by the fender, and Alvin made friends with them while Mrs. Pickett conducted Eweretta and Mrs. Le Breton upstairs to remove their outer garments.
Soon Pickett appeared, and sat down with Alvin near the fire, and the two men began to discuss farming from the English and the Canadian point of view.
“I have been pulling and carting mangold to-day,” said Pickett, handing a tobacco-jar to Alvin, with an invitation to “fill up.” “I want to get them in while the weather is favorable.”
“Some believe in leaving them longer to improve,” said Alvin, “but I think you are right. A frost might come any time now. It is very cold to-day.”
“I see you know a bit about farming,” said Pickett with approval.
“I know a bit about most things,” said Alvin. “You have to, out in the North-West. But farming in Canada is very different from farming in England.”
“I suppose so,” answered Pickett with interest.