44 THE SEVEN LITTLE BASKETS.

out of his mouth and prepared his face to begin, what must it
be by this time?

She jumped up again and began to pull at the heavy sack
—but, oh, dear! she could not even heave it up on to her
shoulder so as to begin carrying it, and, at last, when she
swung it with all her might it came down on her back with
such a thump as to nearly knock her down. Her knees
trembled under her, and she was obliged to let it slide down
again. What should she do? Mary sat still to think. Sup-
posing that she were to take out some of the potatoes and run
home with them leaving the rest on the ground, and then come
back for more? That was a bright idea. But then supposing
that some thief were to steal the others while she was gone—
bag and all?—and the sack was not hers. It had to be
returned. The kind neighbour who had given the potatoes
had made her promise to bring back the sack at once; for he
was a poor man himself, and wanted it, for he had not many.

Mary stood up and looked round. A little way off she
could see Ally and Delly, Rosie and Posie, Meg and Peg, all
playing at tisty-tosties with the cowslip balls which nurse had
made, while Sonnie, who had forgotten all about the soldier,
was sitting close by, making, a sceptre by sticking daisies on a
thorny branch.

How happy and careless they all looked! They knew
nothing about the cares of the tiny, troubled woman, who was
gazing so sadly, first at their merry game, and then at the heavy
sack on the grass which she could not carry.

Just then Mary’s eyes caught a glimpse of something
bright among the clover leaves; this was the brilliant red coat
of the soldier, who, of course, had a handsome uniform and
was proud of it, as it is the nature of some soldiers to be, even
when a dazzling coat is not the only reason why they enlist.