"Little Miss Ellen, how do you like my house on the rock here?"
"I don't know, Maam," said Ellen; "I like it very much; only I don't think I should like it so well in winter."
"I am not certain that I don't like it then best of all. Why would you not like it in winter?"
"I shouldn't like the cold, Maam, and to be alone."
"I like to be alone but cold? I am in no danger of freezing, Miss Ellen. I make myself very warm keep good fires and my house is too strong for the wind to blow it away. Don't you want to go out and see my cow? I have one of the best cows that ever you saw; her name is Snow: there is not a black hair upon her; she is all white. Come, Miss Alice; Mr. Marshman sent her to me a month ago; she's a great treasure, and worth looking at."
They went across the yard to the tiny barn or outhouse, where they found Snow nicely cared for. She was in a warm stable, a nice bedding of straw upon the floor, and plenty of hay laid up for her. Snow deserved it, for she was a beauty, and a very well-behaved cow, letting Alice and Ellen stroke her and pat her, and feel of her thick hide, with the most perfect placidity. Mrs. Vawse meanwhile went to the door to look out.
"Nancy ought to be home to milk her," she said; "I must give you supper and send you off. I've no feeling nor smell if snow isn't thick in the air somewhere; we shall see it here soon."
"I'll milk her!" said Ellen; "I'll milk her! Ah, do let me! I know how to milk; Mr. Van Brunt taught me, and I have done it several times. May I? I should like it dearly."
"You shall do it surely, my child," said Mrs. Vawse. "Come with me, and I'll give you the pail and the milking-stool."
When Alice and Ellen came in with the milk, they found the kettle on, the little table set, and Mrs. Vawse very busy at another table.
"What are you doing, Mrs. Vawse, may I ask?" said Alice.
"I'm just stirring up some Indian meal for you; I find I have not but a crust left."
"Please to put that away, Maam, for another time. Do you think I didn't know better than to come up to this mountain top without bringing along something to live upon while I am here? Here's a basket, Maam, and in it are divers things; I believe Margery and I between us have packed up enough for two or three suppers to say nothing of Miss Fortune's pie. There it is sure to be good, you know; and here are some of my cakes, that you like so much, Mrs. Vawse," said Alice, as she went on pulling the things out of the basket; "there is a bowl of butter that's not wanted, I see and here is a loaf of bread; and that's all. Ellen, my dear, this basket will be lighter to carry down than it was to bring up."