CHAPTER 7.
It was pretty late that night when we got home, and poor mother and Aileen were that glad to see us that they didn't ask too many questions.
Mother would sit and look at the pair of us for ever so long without speaking, and then the tears would come into her eyes and she'd turn away her head.
The old place looked very snug, clean, and comfortable, too, after all the camping-out, and it was first-rate to have our own beds again.

Then the milk and fresh butter, and the eggs and bacon--my word! how Jim did lay in; you'd have thought he was goin' on all night.
'By George! home's a jolly place after all,' he said.

'I am going to stay ever so long this time, and work like an old near-side poler--see if I don't.

Let's look at your hands, Aileen; my word, you've been doin' your share.' 'Indeed, has she,' said mother.

'It's a shame, so it is, and her with two big brothers, too.' 'Poor Ailie,' said Jim, 'she had to take an axe, had she, in her pretty little hands; but she didn't cut all that wood that's outside the door and I nearly broke my neck over, I'll go bail.' 'How do you know ?' says she, smiling roguish-like.