"I was telling Astor only last night that if we had much more of that sort I'd have to keep him on sawdust puddings and pine-cone soup.

That fetched a long face on to him, I can tell you; for it is downright fond of his food he is, and a rare trencherman too." "It is bad to run short of stores in keen weather like this," said 'Duke Radford, who with the help of his daughter was bringing bags, barrels, and bundles of goods into the house from the two sledges, while the dogs rested with an air of enjoyment delightful to behold.
When the stores were all safely housed, Mrs.M'Kree insisted on their drinking a cup of hot coffee before they returned; and just as she was lifting the coffee pot from the stove her husband came in.

He was tall, thin, and sombre of face, as men who live in the woods are apt to be, but he had a genial manner, and that he was no tyrant could be seen from the way his children clung about his legs.
"Dear me, these youngsters!" he exclaimed, sitting down on the nearest bench with a child on each knee.

"I wish they were old enough to go to your school, Miss Radford, then I'd get some peace for part of the day at least." "I wish they were old enough, too," sighed Katherine.

"It is really quite dreadful to think what a long time I have got to wait before all the small children in the neighbourhood are of an age to need school." "By which time I expect you won't be wanting to keep school at all," said Mrs.M'Kree with a laugh.