262 FARMING BY INCHES; 



" Quiet simplicity is what we desire, madam. My wife 

 and I know how to appreciate it, I assure you." 



" Indeed we do," said I. " None are more simple in their 

 tastes than we." 



In truth, this sweet-faced, self-possessed old lady quite 

 charmed me. 



" I hope we shall see more of you, Mrs. Jones." 



" You shall ; " and she bade ^us good-morning and disap- 

 peared in the woods. 



We had a very early breakfast the next morning, as Rob- 

 ert said he had a great deal of work on hand. Breakfast over, 

 he put on stout leather boots and a suit of old clothes, and 

 went out to meet two laboring men who arrived from 

 the village at seven o'clock. I saw no more of him till 

 twelve, when he came in to dinner. We had changed our 

 dinner-time since removing to Arenac, and dined at the un- 

 romantic hour of noon. This we found divided our day 

 much more evenly than one or two o'clock. Indeed, one of 

 the first surprises of our country life was the extraordinary 

 length of the days. In town we breakfasted at eight, and 

 had tea at six ; but now the daylight seemed to be several 

 hours longer, and an earlier breakfast and later tea required 

 our dinner to come at noon. After dinner Robert brought 

 a large quantity of potatoes into the kitchen, saying, as he 

 did so : 



