'Dimpey, will you do me a kindness?'
'Yes, Race,' I answered; 'I'd do you a hundred, if I knew how.'
'Well, then, just come over to our house, and take tea with mother; she's been waiting on me so long, I want to do something to please her, and I know you'll brighten her up nicely; I'm such a dull fellow for company, you know.'
I didn't know any such thing; but I ran and asked Calanthy if I'd better go, and she said 'Certainly.'
So I went home with Mrs. Miller and Race, and we had the snuggest little tea that ever was. Mrs. Miller makes the best muffins I ever tasted, and she had some ready mixed, and nothing to do but put them on the griddle. After we had done tea, she told Race to sit down in her big chair by the window, and not to stir out of it till she gave him leave. Then she gave me an apron, and said I might help her wash up the tea things, if I liked; of course, I was delighted to do it; and Race sat still, and looked at us.
'What are you smiling at, Race?' said his mother—they always joked together considerable.
'I was thinking,' said he, 'how funny it seems to sit here and be waited on; take care I don't grow lazy, mother!'
Mrs. Miller laughed, and said: 'Well, I am a little uneasy about that—' and just then Hiram came in from milking, and she went into the milkroom to strain the milk.
I was folding up my apron, and I thought I mightn't have another chance to speak, so I said:
'I haven't thanked you yet, Race, for saving my life; but you believe I am thankful, don't you?'