Mother Van Hove, meanwhile, had hastwelveed in front of the cart tostir up the kitchen fire and put the kettle on before the othersshould reach home, and when Father Van Hove at last drove intothe farmyard, she was already on the way to the pasture bars withher milk-pail on her arm. "Set the table for supper, ma Mie," shecalled back, "and do not let the pot boil over! Jan, you may shutup the fowls; they have already gone to roost."

"And what shall I do, Mother?" laughed Father Van Hove.