Mike brought back word from her that if you send the wagon in the cool of the morning, she will come over with her trunk." "You are a funny girl," said Ralph, "to be actually pleased at the prospect of cooking and doing housework a little longer." And as he said that, he congratulated himself that his sister had not had the chance of thinking him a funny fellow for lying stretched on the hay when he ought to have been at work.
Miriam was now in good spirits again.

She walked to the great open window, and, leaning on the bar, looked out.
"What a lovely air," she said, and then she turned to her brother.

"It is nice to have visitors, and to have plenty of people to do your work, but it is a hundred times jollier for just us two to be here by ourselves.
Don't you think so, Ralph ?" And, without waiting for her brother's answer, she went on.

"You see, we can do whatever we please.

We can be as free as anything--as free as cats.