Jenny was very gay and they helped Mrs. Murdoch to bring in the plates from the kitchen, watching while Charles carved the large joint of roast mutton as they would have done if they had really been part of his family. Adele Abercrombie sat in a high-backed chair at the head of the table, appraising them with smiling eyes, glad to be back at Kilchoan after three months of travelling, glad to be home. She sustained a vivacious conversation with the grieve's wife while Mrs. Murdoch remained in the room and told diem afterwards that she had missed 'that grand little woman' more than anyone else. "More than me?" demanded Jenny, her eyes very bright. "What makes you think I should miss you?" the old lady teased. "You chatter all the time without managing to say very much!" "Oh, Grand'mere!" Jenny protested, "if I thought you meant that I'd never speak to you again. I have got a lot to say, and ask, but I can't think of everything at once." "What have you been doing while I've been away?" Adele asked.
