As it was, his time was not at all doleful.

All the chickens, hens, cats, calves, and flowers that Miriam had had under her especial care were now attended to most sedulously by Cicely, and in these good works Ralph gave willing and constant assistance.

In fact, he found that he could do a great deal more for Cicely than Miriam had been willing he should do for her.

This cooeperation was very pleasing to him, for Cicely was a girl who knew little about things rural but wanted to know much, and Ralph was a young fellow who liked to teach such girls as Cicely..