By the time the two girls got down to the dining-table, every one had
left the room, and there only remained one doubtful pear, and three
baked apples, besides the loaf and the jug of milk. Mysie explained
that not being a regular meal, no one was obliged to come punctually to
it, or to come at all, but these who came tardily might fare the worse.
As to the blackberries, for which Dolores inquired, the girls were
going to make jam of them themselves the next day; but Mysie added,
with an effort, she would fetch some, as her cousin had had none in the
gathering.

'Oh no, thank you; I hate blackberries,' said Dolores, helping herself
to an apple.

'Do you?' said Mysie, blankly. 'We don't. They are such fun. You
can't think how delicious the great overhanging clusters are in the
lane. Some was up so high that Hal had to stand up in the cart to
reach them, and to take Fergus up on his shoulder. We never had such a
blackberrying as with mamma and Hal to help us. And only think, a
great carriage came by, with some very grand people in it; we think it
was the Dean; and they looked down the lane and stared, so surprised to
see what great mind to call out, 'Fee, faw, fum.' You know nothing
makes such a good giant as Fergus standing on Hal's shoulders, and a
curtain over them to hide Hal's face. Oh dear, I wish I hadn't told
you! You would have been a new person to show it to.'

Dolores made very little answer, finished her apple, and followed to
the schoolroom, where an irregular verb, some geography, and some dates
awaited her.