THE STORY OF WAITSTILL BAXTER

第7章

IvoryhaddrawnitupatMr。Wilson’srequest，merelytoshowhowfarheunderstoodthebooksandcaseshewasstudying，andhehadnoideathatitdifferedinanywayfromtheworkofanyotherstudent；allthesame，Mark’sowneffortsinalikedirectionhadneverreceivedanyspecialmention。Whenhewasinthehay—fieldhealsokeptasfaraspossiblefromIvory，becausethere，too，hefeltasuperioritythatmadehim，forthemoment，atriflediscontented。ItwasnoparticularpleasureforhimtoseeIvoryplungehisforkdeepintotheheartofahay—cock，takeafirmgraspofthehandle，thrustforwardhisfoottosteadyhimself，andthenraisethegreatfragrantheapslowly，andswingituptothewaitinghaycartamidtheapplauseofthecrowd。Rodmanwouldbethere，too，helpingthemanontopoftheloadandgettingnearlyburiedeachtime，asthemassdescendeduponhim，butdoinghisslenderbesttodistributeandtreaditdownproperly，whilehisyoungheartglowedwithprideatCousinIvory’sprowess。

IndependenceDayhadpassed，withitsusualgayetiesfortheyoungpeople，innoneofwhichtheBaxterfamilyhadjoined，andnow，ateleveno’clockonthisburningJulymorning，WaitstillwasdrivingtheoldmarepasttheWilsonfarmonherwaytotheriverfield。Herfatherwasworkingthere，togetherwiththetwohiredmenwhomhetookonforafortnightduringtheheightoftheseason。Ifmowing，raking，pitching，andcartingofthepreciouscropcouldonlyhavebeendoneatoddtimesduringtheyear，oratnight，hewouldnothaveembitteredthemonthofJulybypayingoutmoneyforlabor：butNaturewasinexorableintheripeningofhayandOldFoxywasobligedtosuccumbtotheinevitable。Waitstillhadabasketpackedwithluncheonforthreeandagreatdemijohnofcoolgingerteaunderthewagonseat。

Otherfarmerssometimesservedhardcider，orrum，butherfather’sprinciplesweredeadagainstthisriotousextravagance。

Temperance，inanyandalldirections，wascheap，andtheDeaconwasaverytemperateman，saveinlanguage。

Thefieldsonbothsidesoftheroadwerefullofhaymakersandeverywheretherewasbustleandstir。Therewouldbethreeorfourmen，oneleading，theothersfollowing，slowlyswingingtheirwaythroughanoblepieceofgrass，andthesmellofthemownfieldsinthesunshinewassweeterthanhoneyinthecomb。

Therewerepatchesofblack—eyedSusansinthemeadowshereandthere，whilepinkandwhitehardhackgrewbytheroad，withdayliliesandblossomingmilkweed。Thebobolinkswereflutingfromeverytree；therewerethrushesinthealderbushesandoriolesinthetopsoftheelms，andWaitstill’sheartoverflowedwithjoyatbeinginsuchaworldofmidsummerbeauty，thoughlife，duringthegreatheatandincessantworkofhaying—time，wasalittlemorerigorousthanusual。Theextrafoodneededforthehiredmenalwayskeptherfatherinastateofmindcloselyresemblinginsanity。Comingdownstairstocookbreakfastshewouldfindthecoffeeorteameasuredoutforthepot。Theincreasedconsumptionofmilkangeredhimbeyondwords，becauseitlessenedthesupplyofbutterforsale。Everythingthatcouldbemadewithbuttermilkwasorderedsotobedone，andnothingbutwatercouldbeusedinmixingtheraisedbread。Thecorncakemustneverhaveanegg；thepiecrustmustbeshortenedonlywithlard，orwithamixtureofbeef—fatanddripping；andsoon，andsoon，eternally。

Whenthegirlswererespectivelyseventeenandthirteen，Waitstillhadbeggedasmallplotofgroundforthemtouseastheyliked，andbeginningatthattimetheyhadgraduallymadealittlegarden，withacoupleoffruittreesandathicketofred，white，andblackcurrantsraspberryandblackberrybushes。Forseveralsummersnowtheyhadsoldenoughoftheirownfruittobuyapairofshoesorgloves，ascarforahat，buteventhistinyincomewasbeginningtobemenaced。TheDeaconpositivelysufferedashelookedatthatoddcornerofearth，notanybiggerthanhisbarnfloor，andsawwhathisgirlshaddonewithnotoolsbutaspadeandahoeandnohelpbuttheirownhands。Hehadnoleisure（sohegrowled）tocultivateandfertilizegroundforsmallfruits，andnomoneytopayamantodoit，yetherewasfoodgrownunderhisveryeye，anditdidnotbelongtohim！

Thegirlsworkedintheirgardenchieflyatsunriseinspringandearlysummer，oraftersupperintheevening；allthesameWaitstillhadbeentoldbyherfatherthedaybeforethatshewasnotonlyusingground，buttime，thatbelongedtohim，andthatheshouldexpecthertoprovide"pie—filling"outofhergardenpatchduringhaying，tohelpsatisfytheravenousappetitesofthatcoupleof"great，gorming，greedylubbers"thathewashiringthisyear。Hehadstoppedthepeelingofpotatoesbeforeboilingbecausehedisapprovedofthethicknessoftheparingshefoundinthepig’spail，andhestoodoverPattyatherworkinthekitchenuntilWaitstillwasindailyfearofatempestofsomesort。

CominginfromtheshedonemorningshemetherfatherjustissuingfromthekitchenwherePattywasstandinglikeayoungFuryinfrontofthesink。"Father’sbeenspyingattheeggshellsIsettledthecoffeewith，andsaidI’dnobusinesstoleavesomuchgoodintheshellwhenIbrokeanegg。Iwillnotbearit；

hemakesmefeelfairlymurderous！You’dbetternotleavemealonewithhimwhenI’mlikethis。Oh！IknowthatI’mwicked，butisn’thewickedtoo，andwhowaswickedfirst？"

Patty’shearthadbeensetonearningandsavingenoughpenniesforawhitemuslindressandeverydayrenderedtheprospectmoreuncertain；thiswasasufficientgrievanceinitselftokeephertemperattheboilingpointhadtherenotbeenvariousothercontributorycauses。Waitstill’spatiencewasflaggingatrifle，too，underthestressofthehotdaysandthestillhotter，breathlessnights。Thesuspicioncrossedhermindnowandthenthatherfather’smiserlinessandfitsoftempermightbecausedbyamentalmaladyoverwhichhenowhadlittleornocontrol，havingnevermasteredhimselfinallhislife。Herpowerofendurancewouldbegreater，shethought，ifonlyshecouldbecertainthatthistheorywastrue，thoughherslaverywouldbejustasgalling。

Itwouldbesoeasyforhertogoawayandearnaliving；shewhohadneverhadadayofillnessinherlife；shewhocouldsew，knit，spin，weave，andcook。ShecouldmakeenoughmoneyinBiddefordorPortsmouthtosupportherself，andPatty，too，untiltheproperworkwasfoundforboth。Buttherewouldbeatrulyterribleconflictofwills，andsuchfiercearraignmentofherunfilialconduct，suchbitterandcausticargumentfromherfather，suchdisapprovalfromtheparsonandtheneighbors，thatherverysoulshrankfromtheprospect。Ifshecouldgoalone，andhavenoresponsibilityoverPatty’sfuture，thatwouldbealittlemorepossible，butshemustthinkwiselyfortwo。

AndhowcouldsheleaveIvorywhentheremightperhapscomeacrisisinhislifewhereshecouldbeusefultohim？HowcouldshecutherselfofffromthoseSundaysinthechoir，thosedearfugitiveglimpsesofhimintheroadoratprayer—meeting？Theywereonlysipsofhappiness，whereherthirstyheartyearnedforlong，deepdraughts，buttheywereimmeasurablybetterthannothing。Freedomfromherfather’sheavyyoke，freedomtowork，andread，andsing，andstudy，andgrow，——oh！howshelongedforthis，butatwhatacostwouldshegainitifshehadtoharbortheguiltyconscienceofanundutifulandrebelliousdaughter，andatthesametimecutherselfofffromthesightoftheonebeingshelovedbestinalltheworld。

ShefeltdrawntowardsIvory’smotherto—day。ThreeweekshadpassedsincehertalkwithIvoryinthechurchyard，buttherehadbeennopossibilityofanhour’sescapefromhome。Shewasatlibertythisafternoon——relativelyatliberty；foralthoughherwork，asusual，waslaidoutforher，itcouldbemadeupsomehoworotherbeforenightfall。ShecoulddriveovertotheBoynton’splace，hitchherhorseinthewoodsnearthehouse，makehervisit，yetbeinplentyoftimetogouptotheriverfieldandbringherfatherhometosupper。PattywasoveratMrs。AbelDay’s，learninganewcrochetstitchandhelpinghertostartalog—cabinquilt。IvoryandRodman，shenew，werebothawayintheWilsonhay—field；notimewouldeverbemorefavorable；soinsteadofdrivingupTown—HouseHillwhenshereturnedtothevillageshekeptonoverthebridge。

XIV

UNCLEBARTDISCOURSES

UNCLEBARTandCephasweretakingtheirnooninghourundertheNodheadappletreeasWaitstillpassedthejoiner’sshopandwentoverthebridge。

"UncleBartmightsomehowguesswhereIamgoing，"shethought，"butevenifhedidhewouldnevertellanyone。"

"Where’sWaitstillboundthisafternoon，Iwonder？"drawledCephas，risingtohisfeetandlookingafterthedepartingteam。

"Thatremindsme，I’dbetterrunuptoBaxter’sandseeifany—thing’swantedbeforeIopenthestore。"

"Ifitmakesanydif’rence，"saidhisfatherdryly，ashefilledhispipe，"Patty’sovertoMis’Day’sspendin’theafternoon。

Don’ts’poseyouwanttocallonthepig，doyou？He’stheonlyonetohome。"

Cephasmadenoremark，butgavehistrousersahitch，pickedupachip，openedhisjack—knife，andsittingdownonthegreenswardbeganidlywhittlingthebitofwoodintoshape。

"Ikindo’wishyou’dletmemakethenewelltwo—story，father；

’twouldn’tbemuchwork，takeitinslacktimeafterhayin’。"

"Lando’Liberty！Whatdoyouwanttodothatfor，Cephas？You’boutpesteredthelifeouto’megittin’metobuildtheellinthefirstplace，whenwedidn’tneeditnomore’natoaddoesapocketbook。Thennothin’woulddobutyoumustpaintit，thoughI

shan’tbeabletohavethemainhousepaintedforanotheryear，sotheoldwinean’thenewbottlesidebysidelooksliketheOldDriver，an’makesusalaughin’—stocktothevillage；——andnowyouwanttochangethethingintoatwo—story！Neverheerdsuchacrazyideeinmylife。"

"Iwanttosettledown，"insistedCephasdoggedly。

"Well，settle；I’mwillin’！Itoldyouthat，aforeyoupaintedtheell。Ain’ttworooms，fourteenbyfourteen，enoughforyoutosettledownin？Iftheyain’t，Iguessyourmother’dgiveyouoneo’thechambersinthemainpart。"

"ShewouldifImarriedPhoebeDay，butIdon’twanttomarryPhoebe，"arguedCephas。"Andmother’sgoneandmadeasummerkitchenforherselfoutintheell，a’ready。Ibetyershe’llnevermoveoutifIshouldwanttomoveinona’sudden。"

"Itoldyouyouwastakin’thatriskwhenyoucutadoorthroughfromthemainpart，"saidhisfathergenially。"Ifyouhadn’tdonethat，yourmotherwould’a’hadtogoneroundoutsidetogitint’theellandmebbeshe’d’a’stayedtohomewhenitstormed，anyhow。Nowyourwife’11havehertroopin’inan’out，inan’

out，thewhole’durin’time。"

"Ionlycutthedoorthroughtopleaseso’tshe’dfavormygittin’married，butIguess’twon’tdonogood。Yousee，father，whatIwasthinkin’ofis，agirlwouldmebbejumpatatwo—story，four—roomedellwhenshewouldn’tlookatasmallerplace。"

"Pendsuponwhetherthegirl’sthejumpin’kindornot！Hadn’tyoubettergiteverythingfixedupwiththeoneyou’vepickedout，aforeyoutakeyourgoodsavin’sandgotobuildin’abiggerplaceforher？"

"I’veaskedheroncea’ready，"Cephasallowed，withaburningface。"Idon’ts’poseyouknowtheoneImean？"

"Nokindofanidee，"respondedhisfather，withaquizzicalwinkthatwaslostontheyoungman，ashiseyeswerefixeduponhiswhittling。"Doesshebelongtothevillage？"

"Iain’tgoin’toletfolksknowwhoI’vepickedouttillIgitalittlemiteforrarder，"respondedCephascraftily。"Say，father，it’sallrighttoaskagirltwice，ain’tit？

"Certainitis，myson。Ineverheerdtherewasanyspeciallimittothenumbero’timesyoucouldask’em，andtheirpowero’

sayin’’No’islikethemercyoftheLord；itendurethforever。

——Youwouldn’tconsiderawidder，Cephas？Awidder’dbeagoodcomp’ny—keeperforyourmother。"

"Ihain’tputmygoodsavin’sintoanelljesttomarryacomp’ny—keeperformother，"respondedCephashuffily。"Iwanttobenumberonewithmygirlandstartrightinontrainin’heruptosuitme。"

"Well，iftrainin’’syourobjectyou’dbettertakemyadvicean’

keepitdarkbeforemarriage，Cephas。It’sastonishin’howthefemalesectdespisesbein’trained；itdon’thardlyseemtobeintheirnaturetomakeanychangesin’emselvesaftertheyoncegitsstarted。"

"Howareyougoin’tolivewith’em，then？"Cephasinquired，lookingupwithinterestcoupledwithsomeincredulity。

"Letthemdothetrainingrespondedhisfather，peacefullypuffingoutthewordswithhispipebetweenhislips。"Someof’em’smildandgentleindiscipline，likeParsonBoone’swifeorMis’TimothyGrant，andothersisstrictandfirmlikeyourmotherandMis’AbelDay。Ifyouhappentogitthefirstkind，why，doastheytellyou，andthanktheLord’tain’tanyworse。

Ifyougitthesecondkind，jestlet’emputtheblindersonyouandtrotasstraightasyouknowhow，withoutshyingnorkickin’

overthetraces，norbolting’causethey’vegotcontrolo’thebitand’tain’tnousefightin’ag’in’theirsuperiorstrength。——Sofurasyoucanjudge，intheearlystageso’thegame，myson，——whichain’tveryfur，——whichkindhaveyoupickedout？"

Cephaswhittledonforsomemomentswithoutaword，butfinally，withasighdrawnfromtheverytoesofhisboots，herespondedgloomily，——

"She’sawfulspunky，thegirlis，anybodycanseethat；butshe’sayoungthing，andIthoughtbein’marriedwouldkindo’tameherdown！"

"Youcanseehowmuchmarriagehastamedyourmotherdown，"

observedUncleBartdispassionately；"howsomever，thoughyourmothercan’tbecalledtame，she’sgothergoodp’ints，forshe’salwaystobecountedon。Thegreatthinginlife，asItakeit，Cephas，istoknowexactlywhattoexpect。Yourmother’sgen’allycreditedwithanonsartintemper，butfolksdoeshergreatinjusticeinsothinkingforinalongexperienceI’veseldomcomeacrossatemperlessonsartinthanyourmother’s。Youknowexactlywheretofindhereverymornin’atsun—upandeverynightatsundown。Thereain’tnothin’youcandotoputherouto’

temper，causeshe’salloutaforehand。Youcanjestgoaboutyourreg’larbusiness’thoutanyfearofdisturbin’heranyfurtherthanshe’sdisturbeda’ready，whichisconsid’rable。Idon’tminditamitenowadays，though，afterfortyyearsofit。Itwouldkindo’gallmetokeepastiddywatchofafemale’sdispositiondaybyday，wonderin’whenshewasgoin’tohaveatantrum。A

tantrumonceayear’sanawfulupsettin’kindofathinginafamily，myson，butatantrumeverytwenty—fourhoursisjestparto’theday’swork。"Therewasamoment’ssilenceduringwhichUncleBartpuffedhispipeandCephaswhittled，afterwhichtheoldmancontinued："Then，ifyouhappentomarryatemperlikeyourmother’s，Cephas，lookwhatapow’fulworkeryougen’allyget！Lookatthewaytheysweepan’dustan’scruban’

clean！Watch’emwhentheygoatthedish—washin’，an’howtheywhacktherollin’—pin，an’maultheeggs，an’heavethewoodint’

thestove，an’slatthefliesouto’thehouse！Themildandgentleonesenough，willbesettin’inthekitchenrockerread—in’thealmanacwhenthereain’tnowoodinthekitchenbox，nodoughnutsinthecrock，nopiesontheswingshelfinthecellar，an’theyoungonesgoin’roundwithoutasecondshifttotheirbacks！"

Cephas’smindwasfarawayduringthisphilosophicaldissertationonthewaysofwomen。Hecouldseeonlyasunnyheadfairlyriotingwithcurls；apairofeyesthatheldhislikemagnets，althoughtheynevergavehimaglanceoflove；asmilethatlightedtheworldfarbetterthanthesun；adimpleintowhichhisheartfellheadlongwheneverhelookedatit！

"You’reright，father；’tain’tnousekickin’ag’in’em，"hesaidasherosetohisfeetpreparatorytoopeningtheBaxterstore。

"WhenIsaidthat’bouttrainin’upagirltosuitme，Ikindo’

forgottheoneI’vepickedout。I’mconsiderin’several，buttheoneIfavormost—well，Ibelieveshe’dfireupatthefirstsighto’trainingandthat’sthegospeltruth。"

"Considerin’several，beyou，Cephas？"laughedUncleBart。"Well，allIhopeis，thattheoneyoufavormost——thegirlyou’veaskedoncea’ready——isconsiderin’you！"

Cephaswenttothepump，andwettingalargehandkerchiefputitinthecrownofhisstrawhatandsaunteredoutintotheburningheatoftheopenroadbetweenhisfather’sshopandDeaconBaxter’sstore。

"Ishan’taskherthenexttimetillthishotspell’sover，"hethought，"andIwon’tdoitinthatdodgastedoldstoreag’in，neither；Iain’tsotongue—tiedoutdoorsan’Ikindo’thinkI’dbemoreinthesperitofitaftersundown，somenightaftersupper！"

IVORY’SMOTHER

WAITSTILLfoundacoolandshadyplaceinwhichtohitchtheoldmare，looseninghercheck—reinandputtingasprigofalderinherheadstalltoassistherinbrushingofftheflies。

OnecouldreachtheBoyntonhouseonlybygoingupalonggrass—grownlanethatledfromthehigh—road。Itwasalonelyplace，andAaronBoyntonhadboughtitwhenhemovedfromSaco，simplybecausehesecureditataremarkablebargain，theownerhavinglosthiswifeandgonetoliveinMassachusetts。Ivorywouldhavesolditlongagohadcircumstancesbeendifferent，foritwasattoogreatadistancefromtheschoolhouseandfromLawyerWilson’sofficetobeatallconvenient，buthedreadedtoremovehismotherfromtheenvironmenttowhichshewasaccustomed，anddoubtedverymuchwhethershewouldbeabletocareforahousetowhichshehadnotbeenwontedbeforehermindbecameaffected。Hereinthissafe，secludedcorner，amidfamiliarandthoroughlyknownconditions，shemovedplacidlyaboutherdailytasks，performingthemwiththesamecareandprecisionthatshehadusedfromthebeginningofhermarriedlife。AlltheheavyworkwasdoneforherbyIvoryandRodman；

theboyinparticularbeingthefleetest—footed，themostwilling，andtheneatestofhelpers；washingdishes，sweepinganddusting，layingthetable，asdeftlyandquietlyasagirl。Mrs。

Boyntonmadeherownsimpledressesofgraycalicoinsummer，ordarklinsey—woolseyinwinterbythesamepatternthatshehadusedwhenshefirstcametoEdgewood：infacttherewerepositivelynoexternalchangesanywheretobeseen，tragicandterribleashadbeenthosethathadwroughthavocinhermind。

Waitstill’sheartbeatfasterasshenearedtheBoyntonhouse。

ShehadneversomuchasseenIvory’smotherforyears。Howwouldshebemet？Whowouldbegintheconversation，andwhatdirectionwouldittake？WhatifMrs。Boyntonshouldrefusetotalktoheratall？Shewalkedslowlyalongthelaneuntilshesawaslender，gray—cladfigurestoopingoveraflower—bedinfrontofthecottage。Thewomanraisedherheadwithafawn—likegesturethathadsomethinginitoftimidityratherthanfear，pickedsomeloosebitsofgreenfromtheground，and，quietlyturningherbackupontheoncomingstranger，disappearedthroughtheopenfrontdoor。

Therecouldbenoretreatonherownpartnow，thoughtWaitstill。

ShewishedforamomentthatshehadmadethisfirstvisitunderIvory’sprotection，butherideahadbeentogainMrs。Boynton’sconfidenceandhaveaquietfriendlytalk，suchaoneaswouldbeimpossibleinthepresenceofathirdperson。Approachingthesteps，shecalledthroughthedoorwayinherclearvoice："Ivoryaskedmetocomeandseeyouoneday，Mrs。Boynton。IamWaitstillBaxter，thelittlegirlonTownHouseHillthatyouusedtoknow。"

Mrs。Boyntoncamefromaninnerroomandstoodonthethreshold。

Thename"Waitstill"hadalwayshadacharmforherears，fromthetimeshefirstheardityearsago，untilitfellfromIvory’slipsthissummer；andagainitcaughtherfancy。

"’WAITSTILL！"’sherepeatedsoftly；"’WAITSTILL！’DoesIvoryknowyou？"

"We’veknowneachotherforeversolong；eversincewewenttothebrickschooltogetherwhenweweregirlandboy。AndwhenI

wasachildmystepmotherbroughtmeoverhereonceonanerrandandIvoryshowedmeahumming—bird’snestinthatlilacbushbythedoor。"

Mrs。Boyntonsmiled"Comeandlook！"shewhispered。"Thereisalwaysahumming—bird’snestinourlilac。Howdidyouremember？"

ThetwowomenapproachedthebushandMrs。Boyntoncarefullypartedtheleavestoshowthedaintymorselofahomethatchedwithsoftgray—greenandlinedwithdown。"Thebirdshaveflownnow，"shesaid。"Theywerelikelittlejewelswhentheydartedoffinthesunshine。"

Hervoicewasfaintandsweet，asifitcamefromfaraway，andhereyeslooked，notasiftheywereseeingyou，butseeingsomethingthroughyou。Herpalehairwasturnedbackfromherpalerface，wheretheveinsshowedlikebluerivers，andhersmilewasliketheflittingofamoonbeam。ShewasstandingveryclosetoWaitstill，closerthanshehadbeentoanywomanformanyyears，andshestudiedheralittle，wistfully，yetcourteously，asifherattentionwasattractedbysomethingfreshandwinning。Shelookedatthecolor，ebbingandflowinginthegirl’scheeks；atherbrowsandlashes；atherneck，aswhiteasswan’s—down；andfinallyputoutherhandwithasuddenimpulseandtouchedtheknotofwavybronzehairunderthebrimmedhat。

"Ihadadaughteronce，"shesaid。"Mysecondbabywasagirl，butshelivedonlyafewweeks。Ineedherverymuch，forIamagreatcaretoIvory。Heissonanddaughterboth，nowthatMr。

Boyntonisawayfromhome。——Youdidnotseeanyoneintheroadasyouturnedinfromthebars，Isuppose？"

"No，"answeredWaitstill，surprisedandconfused，"butIdidn’treallynotice；Iwasthinkingofacoolplaceformyhorsetostand。"

"Isitouthereinthesewarmafternoons，"Mrs。Boyntoncontinued，shadinghereyesandlookingacrossthefields，"becauseIcanseesofardownthelane。Ihavethesupper—tablesetformyhusbandalready，andthereisasurpriseforhim，asaucerofwildstrawberriesIpickedforhimthismorning。Ifhedoesnotcome，IalwaystakeawaytheplateandcupbeforeIvorygetshere；itseemstomakehimunhappy。"

"Hedoesn’tlikeitwhenyouaredisappointed，Isuppose，"

Waitstillventured。"Ihavebroughtmyknitting，Mrs。Boynton，sothatIneedn’tkeepyouidleifyouwishtowork。MayIsitdownafewminutes？AndhereisacottagecheeseforIvoryandRodman，andajarofplumsforyou，preservedfrommyowngarden。"

Mrs。Boynton’seyessearchedthefaceofthisvisitorfromaworldshehadalmostforgottenandfindingnothingbuttendernessthere，saidwithjustatraceofbewilderment："Thankyouyes，dositdown；myworkbasketisjustinsidethedoor。Takethatrocking—chair；Idon’thaveanotheroneoutherebecauseIhaveneverbeeninthehabitofseeingvisitors。"

"IhopeIamnotintruding，"stammeredWaitstill，seatingherselfandbeginningherknitting，toseeifitwouldlessenthesenseofstrainbetweenthem。

"Notatall。Ialwayslovedyoungandbeautifulpeople，andsodidmyhusband。Ifhecomeswhileyouarehere，donotgoaway，butsitwithhimwhileIgethissupper。IfElderCochraneshouldbewithhim，youwouldseetwowonderfulmen。TheywentawaytogethertodosomemissionaryworkinMaineandNewHampshireandperhapstheywillcomebacktogether。Idonotwelcomecallersbecausetheyalwaysasksomanydifficultquestions，butyouaredifferentandhaveaskedmenoneatall。"

"Ishouldnotthinkofaskingquestions，Mrs。Boynton。"

"NotthatIshouldmindansweringthem，"continuedIvory’smother，"exceptthatittiresmyheadverymuchtothink。YoumustnotimagineIamill；itisonlythatIhaveaverybadmemory，andwhenpeopleaskmetoremembersomething，ortogiveananswerquickly，itconfusesmethemore。EvennowIhaveforgottenwhyyoucame，andwhereyoulive；butIhavenotforgottenyourbeautifulname。"

"Ivorythoughtyoumightbelonely，andIwantedsomuchtoknowyouthatIcouldnotkeepawayanylonger，forIamlonelyandunhappytoo。Iamalwayswatchingandhopingforwhathasnevercomeyet。Ihavenomother，youhavelostyourdaughter；I

thought——Ithought——perhapswecouldbeacomforttoeachother！"

AndWaitstillrosefromherchairandputoutherhandtohelpMrs。Boyntondownthesteps，shelookedsofrail，sotransparent，soprematurelyaged。"Icouldnotcomeveryoften——butifIcouldonlysmoothyourhairsometimeswhenyourheadaches，ordosomecookingforyou，orreadtoyou，oranylittlethinglikethat，asIwouldfermyownmother——ifIcould，Ishouldbesoglad！"

WaitstillstoodaheadhigherthanIvory’smotherandtheglowinghealthofher，thesteadinessofhervoice，thewarmthofherhand—claspmusthavemadeherseemlikeastrongrefugetothisstorm—tossedderelict。ThedeepfurrowbetweenLoisBoynton’seyesrelaxedatrifle，thebloodinherveinsranalittlemoreswiftlyunderthetouchoftheyounghandthatheldherssoclosely。Suddenlyalightcameintoherfaceandherlipquivered。

"PerhapsIhavebeenrememberingwrongalltheseyears，"shesaid。"Itismygreattrouble，rememberingwrong。PerhapsmybabydidnotdieasIthought；perhapsshelivedandgrewup；perhaps"

（herpalecheekburnedandhereyesshonelikestars）"perhapsshehascomeback！"