She is away to-night , or I should not be here , '' he added , as if some excuse was necessary . Merry needed no hint , for her tender heart was touched by the vision of her friend in a garret , and she suddenly rejoiced that there was ham and eggs for supper , so that he might be well fed once , at least , before he went away to feed on artistic crusts . `` Being here , come in and spend the evening . The boys will like to hear the news , and so will father . Do , now . '' It was impossible to refuse the invitation he had been longing for , and in they went to the great delight of Roxy , who instantly retired to the pantry , smiling significantly , and brought out the most elaborate pie in honor of the occasion . Merry touched up the table , and put a little vase of flowers in the middle to redeem the vulgarity of doughnuts . Of course the boys upset it , but as there was company nothing was said , and Ralph devoured his supper with the appetite of a hungry boy , while watching Merry eat bread and cream out of an old-fashioned silver porringer , and thinking it the sweetest sight he ever beheld . Then the young people gathered about the table , full of the new plans , and the elders listened as they rested after the week 's work . A pleasant evening , for they all liked Ralph , but as the parents watched Merry sitting among the great lads like a little queen among her subjects , half unconscious as yet of the power in her hands , they nodded to one another , and then shook their heads as if they said , -- `` I 'm afraid the time is coming , mother . '' `` No danger as long as she do n't know it , father . '' At nine the boys went off to the barn , the farmer to wind up the eight-day clock , and the housewife to see how the baked beans and Indian pudding for to-morrow were getting on in the oven . Ralph took up his hat to go , saying as he looked at the shade on the tall student lamp , -- `` What a good light that gives ! I can see it as I go home every night , and it burns up here like a beacon . I always look for it , and it hardly ever fails to be burning . Sort of cheers up the way , you know , when I 'm tired or low in my mind . '' `` Then I 'm very glad I got it . I liked the shape , but the boys laughed at it as they did at my bulrushes in a ginger-jar over there . I 'd been reading about ` household art , ' and I thought I 'd try a little , '' answered Merry , laughing at her own whims . `` You 've got a better sort of household art , I think , for you make people happy and places pretty , without fussing over it .
This room is ever so much improved every time I come , though I hardly see what it is except the flowers , '' said XXXXX , looking from the girl to the tall calla that bent its white cup above her as if to pour its dew upon her head .
Ralph bulrushes burns doughnuts eight-day evening garret ginger-jar night porringer