Saul was piling wood into the big oven , and Sophie paused a moment on the threshold to look at him , for she always enjoyed the sight of this stalwart cousin , whom she likened to a Norse viking , with his fair hair and beard , keen blue eyes , and six feet of manly height , with shoulders that looked broad and strong enough to bear any burden . His back was toward her , but he saw her first , and turned his flushed face to meet her , with the sudden lighting up it always showed when she approached . `` I 've done it , Aunt ; and now I want Saul to post the letter , so we can get a speedy answer . '' `` Just as soon as I can hitch up , cousin ; '' and Saul pitched in his last log , looking ready to put a girdle round the earth in less than forty minutes . `` Well , dear , I ai n't the least mite of objection , as long as it pleases you . I guess we can stan ' it ef your city folks can . I presume to say things will look kind of sing ` lar to 'em , but I s ` pose that 's what they come for . Idle folks do dreadful queer things to amuse 'em ; '' and Aunt Plumy leaned on the rolling-pin to smile and nod with a shrewd twinkle of her eye , as if she enjoyed the prospect as much as Sophie did . `` I shall be afraid of 'em , but I 'll try not to make you ashamed of me , '' said Ruth , who loved her charming cousin even more than she admired her . `` No fear of that , dear . They will be the awkward ones , and you must set them at ease by just being your simple selves , and treating them as if they were every-day people . Nell is very nice and jolly when she drops her city ways , as she must here . She will enter into the spirit of the fun at once , and I know you 'll all like her . Mr. Randal is rather the worse for too much praise and petting , as successful people are apt to be , so a little plain talk and rough work will do him good . He is a true gentleman in spite of his airs and elegance , and he will take it all in good part , if you treat him like a man and not a lion . '' `` I 'll see to him , '' said Saul , who had listened with great interest to the latter part of Sophie 's speech , evidently suspecting a lover , and enjoying the idea of supplying him with a liberal amount of `` plain talk and rough work . '' `` I 'll keep 'em busy if that 's what they need , for there will be a sight to do , and we ca n't get help easy up here . Our darters do n't hire out much . Work to home till they marry , and do n't go gaddin ' ` round gettin ' their heads full of foolish notions , and forgettin ' all the useful things their mothers taught 'em . '' Aunt Plumy glanced at Ruth as she spoke , and a sudden color in the girl 's cheeks proved that the words hit certain ambitious fancies of this pretty daughter of the house of Basset .
`` They shall do their parts and not be a trouble ; I 'll see to that , for you certainly are the dearest aunt in the world to let me take possession of you and yours in this way , '' cried XXXXX , embracing the old lady with warmth .
Nell Ruth Sophie ef first gaddin gettin minutes rolling-pin viking