cream. 

 "No," cried Christina, overcome with laughter, "she didn't tell me." 

 "She's just a wee bit shy about it yet," said Auntie Janet.  "But when she gets over it, you'll see them together in church." 

 "It's Piper Lauchie McDonald!" cried Auntie Flora, coming up to the surface again; "he's been comin' here pretendin' he wanted to teach Gavie the pipes, but we can see it's Elspie he's got in his eye." 

 Auntie Elspie's eyes were dancing.  "They're both that jealous o' me, there's no livin' with them," she confided. 

 They all joined Christina in a gale of laughter, none gayer than Elspie herself. 

 Tea was all ready now, a perfect banquet set out with the blue dishes, on the best white and blue tablecloth, with a tremendous glory of asters and dahlias in a bronze jug in the middle of the table. 

 When everything was ready, Auntie Janet ran to the foot of the front lawn and called a long clear "Hoo-hoo!" and from far away in the fields a faint halloo answered. 

 "Gavie's coming," the three cried together joyously, and Auntie Elspie hurried out to the wood-shed to place the blue china teapot on the stove to warm. 

 "He won't be long, he always knows there's company when the dogs bark and he'll hurry in." 

 While they waited Auntie Flora took Christina into the parlour to show her a new song-book Gavin had brought home the Saturday previous. 

 Christina's fascinated gaze went around the wonderful framed wreaths on the wall, one made of cotton-batting flowers, another of coloured feathers and the most interesting one fashioned of flowers made from hair. Auntie Flora went over each blossom tenderly. This rose at the top was made of mother's hair. Wasn't her hair beautiful and soft and shining? Nobody in the family had hair like mother's. And the one just beside it of darker grey, was father's. Father's hair was rich and beautiful too. The dark brown one was Janet's and the fair one Elspie's. 

 "And ye can tell whose is the mouse-coloured one," said Auntie Janet teasingly. 

 "Aye," said Auntie Flora.  "They're never done talkin' about my mouse-coloured hair; but they'll soon have to stop because it's gettin' white!" she added 

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