“Enough for to-day,” said Ranald, wondering how he could tell Don of the proposed visit of Mrs. Murray and her niece. Taking each a bundle of spiles and an ax, the boys set out for the part of the sugar bush as yet untapped, and began their work.
“The minister's wife and Hughie were here just now,” began Ranald.
“Huh-huh, I met them down the road. Hughie said he was coming day after to-morrow.”
“Did Mrs. Murray tell you—”
“Tell me what?”
“Did she tell you she would like to see a sugaring-off?”
“No; they didn't stop long enough to tell me anything. Hughie shouted at me as they passed.”
“Well,” said Ranald, speaking slowly and with difficulty, “she wanted bad to see the sugar-making, and I asked her to come.”
“You did, eh? I wonder at you.”
“And she wanted to bring her niece, and—and—I let her,” said Ranald.