"So it is, Antonia," said Mrs. Harling
heartily. "Maybe I'll go home and help you
thrash next summer. Isn't that taffy nearly
ready to eat? I've been smelling it a long
while."

There was a basic harmony between An-
tonia and her mistress. They had strong, in-
dependent natures, both of them. They knew
what they liked, and were not always trying
to imitate other people. They loved children
and animals and music, and rough play and
digging in the earth. They liked to prepare
rich, hearty food and to see people eat it; to
make up soft white beds and to see young-
sters asleep in them. They ridiculed conceited
people and were quick to help unfortunate
ones. Deep down in each of them there was
a kind of hearty joviality, a relish of life, not
over-delicate, but very invigorating. I never
tried to define it, but I was distinctly con-
scious of it. I could not imagine Antonia's
living for a week in any other house in Black
Hawk than the Harlings'.

[[205]]

p204 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p205w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p206

v?