THE SUGAR MOON 33 



*'She must be a very old lady," observed 

 Uncle Isaac. 



*'Yes, she is old" — and Nani laughed again 

 — "she is old, as old as the earth I" 



** That's six thousand years," said Uncle 

 Isaac, who was very orthodox. "She can't be 

 that old. Even Methusely was only nine hun- 

 dred years old. Do you know the Ten Com- 

 mandments?" 



"I know but one commandment," answered 

 Nani. 



"What's that?" 



"Love," she replied, and ran to bring more 

 wood for the fire. 



At sunset Nani slipped away among the 

 shadows, and none saw her go. 



She did not return on the morrow. It was 

 too cold for the sap to run, and Farmer Brier 

 washed the pots and pails and waited for 

 spring weather. 



Dotty May had followed her father into the 

 sugar bush, but was not to be seen when he 

 started for home. There was no reply to his 

 loud "Helloa!" so, thinking she had gone 



