Page:Tales for the farmers' ingle-neuk (2).pdf/19

 found the doors open, they sat no appearance of any inhabitants. At length Mrs MacClarty came in, all out of breath, followed by her daughters, two big girls of eleven and thirteen years of age. She welcomed Mrs Mason and her friends with great kindness, and made many apologies for being in no better order to receive them; and immediately fell to busying herself in sweeping in the hearth, and adding turf to the fire, in order to make the kettle boil for tea.

"I think," said Miss Mary, "you might make your daughters save you that trouble;" looking at the two girls, who stood all this time leaning against the wall:

"O poor things," said their mother, "they have not been used to it; they have enough o' time for wark yet."

"Depend upon it," said Mrs Mason; "young people can never begin too soon; your eldest daughter there will soon be as tall as yourself.

"Indeed' she's of a stately growth," said Mrs MacClarty, pleased with the observation; "and Jenny there is little ahint her; but what are they but bairns yet, for a' that! In time, I warrant, they'll do weel eneugh! Meg can milk a' cow as well as I can do, when she likes."

"And does she not always like to do all she can?" said Mrs Mason.

"O we maunna complain," returned the mother, "she does weel eneugh."

While Mrs MacClarty was preparing tea for her guest, Mrs Mason cast her exploring eye on the house and furniture. She soon saw, that