第8章

Waitstillcouldnotspeak；sheputherarmroundthetremblingfigure，holdingherasshewaswonttoholdPatty，andwiththesameprotectiveinstinct。Theembracewaselectricinitseffectandsetaltogethernewcurrentsofemotionincirculation。

SomethinginLoisBoynton’sperturbedmindseemedtobeatitswingsagainstthebarriersthathadheretoforeopposedit，and，freeingitself，mountedintoclearerairandwentsingingtothesky。Sherestedhercheekonthegirl’sbreastwithalittlesob。

"Oh！letmegoonrememberingwrong，"shesighed，fromthatsafeshelter。"Letmegoonrememberingwrong！Itmakesmesohappy！"

Waitstillgentlyledhertotherocking—chairandsatdownbesideherontheloweststep，strokingherthinhand。Mrs。Boynton’seyeswereclosed，herbreathcameandwentquickly，butpresentlyshebegantospeakhurriedly，asifshewererelievingasurchargedheart。

"Thereissomethingtroublingme，"shebegan，"anditwouldeasemymindifIcouldtellittosomeonewhocouldhelp。Yourhandissowarmandsofirm！Oh，holdminecloselyandletmedrawinstrengthaslongasyoucanspareit；itisflowing，flowingfromyourhandintomine，flowinglikewine……Mythoughtsatnightarenotlikemythoughtsbyday，theselastweeks……I

wakesuddenlyandfeelthatmyhusbandhasbeenawayalongtimeandwillnevercomeback……Often，atnight，too，Iaminsoretroubleaboutsomethingelse，somethingIhavenevertoldIvory，thefirstthingIhaveeverhiddenfrommydearson，butI

thinkIcouldtellyou，ifonlyIcouldbesureaboutit。"

"Tellmeifitwillhelpyou；Iwilltrytounderstand，"saidWaitstillbrokenly。

"IvorysaysRodmanisthechildofmydeadsister。Someonemusthavetoldhimso；couldithavebeenI？Ithauntsmedayandnight，forunlessIamrememberingwrongagain，Ineverhadasister。Icancalltomindneithersisternorbrother。"

"YouwenttoNewHampshireonewinter，"Waitstillremindedhergently，asifsheweretalkingtoachild。"Itwasbittercoldforyoutotakesuchahardjourney。Yoursisterdied，andyoubroughtherlittleboy，Rodman，back，butyouweresoillthatastrangerhadtotakecareofyouonthestage—coachanddriveyoutoEdgewoodnextdayinhisownsleigh。Itisnowonderyouhaveforgottensomethingofwhathappened，forDr。Perryhardlybroughtyouthroughthebrainfeverthatfollowedthatjourney。"

"Iseemtothink，now，thatitisnotso！"saidMrs。Boynton，openinghereyesandlookingatWaitstilldespairingly。"ImustgropeandgropeinthedarkuntilIfindoutwhatistrue，andthentellIvory。Godwillpunishfalsespeaking！Hisheartisclosedagainstliesandevil—doing！"

"Hewillneverpunishyouifyourtiredmindrememberswrong，"

saidWaitstill。"Heknows，nonebetter，howyouhavetriedtofindHimandholdHim，throughmanyatangledpath。IwillcomeasoftenasIcanandwewilltrytofrightenawaytheseworryingthoughts。"

"Ifyouwillonlycomenowandthenandholdmyhand，"saidIvory’smother，——"holdmyhandsothatyourstrengthwillflowintomyweakness，perhapsIshallpuzzleitallout，andGodwillhelpmetorememberrightbeforeIdie。"

"EverythingthatIhavepowertogiveawayshallbegiventoyou，"promisedWaitstill。"NowthatIknowyou，andyoutrustme，youshallneverbeleftsoaloneagain，——notforlong，atanyrate。WhenIstayawayyouwillrememberthatIcannothelpit，won’tyou？"

"Yes，IshallthinkofyoutillIseeyouagainIshallwatchthelonglanemorethanevernow。Ivorysometimestakesthepathacrossthefieldsbutmydearhusbandwillcomebytheoldroad，andnowtherewillbeyoutolookfor！"

XVI

LOCKEDOUT

ATtheBaxtersthelatesupperwasoverandthegirlshadnotsatatthetablewiththeirfather，havingeatenearlier，bythemselves。Thehiredmenhadgonehometosleep。Pattyhadretiredtothesolitudeofherbedroomalmostatdusk，quitewornoutwiththeheat，andWaitstillsatunderthepeachtreeinthecornerofherownlittlegarden，tatting，andthinkingofherinterviewwithIvory’smother。Shesatthereuntilnearlyeighto’clock，tryingvainlytoputtogetherthepuzzlingdetailsofLoisBoynton’sconversation，wonderingwhethertheperplexitiesthatvexedhermindwererealorfancied，butwarmedtotheheartbytheaffectionthattheolderwomanseemedinstinctivelytofeelforher。"Shedidnotknowme，yetshecaredformeatonce，"thoughtWaitstilltenderlyandproudly；"andIforher，too，atthefirstglance。"

Sheheardherfatherlockthebarnandshedandknewthathewouldbegoingupstairsimmediately，soshequicklywentthroughthesideyardandliftedthelatchofthekitchendoor。Itwasfastened。Shewenttothefrontdoorandthat，too，wasbolted，althoughithadbeenstandingopenalltheevening，sothatifabreezeshouldspringup，itmightblowthroughthehouse。Herfathersupposed，ofcourse，thatshewasinbed，andshedreadedtobringhimdownstairsforfearofhisanger；stilltherewasnohelpforitandsherappedsmartlyatthesidedoor。Therewasnoanswerandsherappedagain，vexedwithherowncarelessness。

Patty’sfaceappearedpromptlybehindherscreenofmosquitonettinginthesecondstory，butbeforeshecouldexchangeawordwithhersister，DeaconBaxteropenedtheblindsofhisbedroomwindowandputhisheadout。

"Youcantrysleepin’outdoors，orinthebarnto—night，"hecalled。"Ididn’tsayanythingtoyouatsupper—timebecauseI

wantedtoseewhereyouwasintendin’toprowlthisevenin’。"

"Ihaven’tbeen’prowling’anywhere，father，"answeredWaitstill；

"I’vebeenoutinthegardencoolingoff；it’sonlyeighto’clock。"

"Well，youcancooloffsomemore，"heshouted，histempernowfullyaroused；"orgobackwhereyouwasthisafternoonandseeifthey’lltakeyouinthere！Iknowallaboutyourdeceitfultricks！IcomehometogrindthescythesandfoundthehouseandbarnemptyCephassaidyou’ddrivenupSacoHillandItookhishorseandfollowedyouandsawwhereyouwentLong’syoucouldn’thaveafellercallin’onyouheretohome，youthoughtyou’dcallonhim，didyer，youbold—facedhussy？"

"Iamnothingofthesort，"thegirlansweredhimquietly；"IvoryBoyntonwasnotathishouse，hewasinthehay—field。Youknowit，andyouknowthatIknewit。Iwenttoseeasick，unhappywomanwhohasnoneighbors。Ioughttohavegonelongbefore。I

amnotashamedofit，andIdon’tregretit。Ifyouaskunreasonablethingsofme，youmustexpecttobedisobeyedonceinawhile。

"Mustexpecttobedisobeyed，mustI？"theoldmancried，hisfacepositivelyterrifyinginitsugliness。"We’llseeaboutthat！Ifyouwa’n’tcallin’onayoungman，youwerecallin’onacrazywoman，andIwon’thaveit，Itellyou，doyouhear？I

won’thaveadaughtero’mineconsortin’withanyo’thatBoyntoncrew。Perhapsanightoutdoorswillteachyouwho’smasterinthishouse，youimperdent，shamelessgirl！We’11tryit，anyway！"

Andwiththathebangeddownthewindowanddisappeared，gibberingandjabberingimpotentwordsthatshecouldhearbutnotunderstand。

Waitstillwasalmoststunnedbythesuddennessofthiscatastrophe。Shestoodwithherfeetrootedtotheearthforseveralminutesandthenwalkedslowlyawayoutofsightofthehouse。TherewasachairbesidethegrindstoneunderthePorterappletreeandshesankintoit，crossedherarmsontheback，andbowingherheadonthem，burstintoafitofweepingastempestuousandpassionateasitwassilent，foralthoughherbodyfairlyshookwithsobsnosoundescaped。

Theminutespassed，perhapsanhour；shedidnottakeaccountoftime。Themoonwentbehindclouds，thenightgrewmistyandthestarsfadedonebyone。Therewouldberainto—morrowandtherewasagreatdealofhaycut，soshethoughtinavagrantsortofway。

MeanwhilePattyupstairswasinastateofsuppressedexcitementandterror。Itwasaquarterofanhourbeforeherfathersettledhim—selfinbed；thenanage，itseemedtoher，beforesheheardhisheavybreathing。Whenshethoughtitquitesafe，sheslippedonaprintwrapper，tookhershoesinherhand，andcreptnoiselesslydownstairs，outthroughthekitchenandintotheshed。Liftingtheheavybarthatheldthebigdoorsinplacesheclosedthemsoftlybehindher，steppedout，andlookedaboutherinthedarkness。Herquickeyeespiedinthedistance，nearthebarn，thebowedfigureinthechair，andsheflewthroughthewetgrasswithoutathoughtofherbarefeettillshereachedhersister’ssideandheldherinacloseembrace。

"Mydarling，myown，own，poordarling！"shecriedsoftly，thetearsrunningdownhercheeks。"Howwicked，howunjusttoservemydearestsisterso！Don’tcry，myblessing，don’tcry；youfrightenme！I’11takecareofyou，dear！NexttimeI’llinterfere；I’llscratchandbite；yes，I’llstrangleanybodythatdarestoshameyouandlockyououtofthehouse！You，thedearest，thepatientest，thebest！"

Waitstillwipedhereyes。"Letusgofartherawaywherewecantalk，"shewhispered。

"Wherehadwebettersleep？"Pattyasked。"Onthehay，Ithink，thoughweshallstiflewiththeheat"；andPattymovedtowardsthebarn。

"No，youmustgobacktothehouseatonce，Pattydear；fathermightwakeandcallyou，andthatwouldmakemattersworse。It’sbeginningtodrizzle，orIshouldstayoutintheair。Oh！I

wonderiffather’smindisgoing，andifthisisthebeginningoftheend！Ifheisinhissobersenses，hecouldnotbesostrange，sosuspicious，sounjust。"

"Hecouldbeanything，sayanything，doanything，"exclaimedPatty。"Perhapsheisnotresponsibleandperhapsheis；itdoesn’tmakemuchdifferencetous。Comealong，blesseddarling！

I’lltuckyouin，andthenI’llcreepbacktothehouse，ifyousayImust。I’llgodownandmakethekitchenfireinthemorning；youstayouthereandseewhathappens。Agooddealwillhappen，I’mthinking，iffatherspeakstomeofyou！Ishouldn’tbesurprisedtoseethefurflyinginalldirections；I’llseizethefirstmomenttobringyououtacupofcoffeeandwe’llconsultaboutwhattodo。Imaytellyounow，I’mallforrunningaway！"

Waitstill’sfirstburstofwretchednesshadsubsidedandshehadrecoveredherbalance。"I’mafraidwemustwaitalittlelonger，Patty，"sheadvised。"Don’tmentionmynametofather，butseehowheactsinthemorning。Hewassowild，sounlikehimself，thatIalmosthopehemayforgetwhathesaidandsleepitoff。

Yes，wemustjustwait。"

"Nodoubthe’llbefarcalmerinthemorningifheremembersthat，ifheturnsyouout，hefacestheprospectofthreemealsadaycookedbyme，"saidPatty。"That’swhathethinkshewouldface，butasamatteroffactIshalltellhimthatwhereyousleepIsleep，andwhereyoueatIeat，andwhenyoustopcookingIstop！Hewon’tpartwithtwounpaidservantsinahurry，notatthebeginningofhaying。"AndPatty，givingWaitstillalasthugandadozentearfulkisses，stolereluctantlybacktothehousebythesameroutethroughwhichhehadleftit。

Pattywasright。Shefoundthefirelightedwhenshewentdownintothekitchennextmorning，andwithoutawordshehurriedbreakfastontothetableasfastasshecouldcookandserveit。

Waitstillwassafeinthebarnchamber，sheknew，andwouldbetherequietlywhileherfatherwasfeedingthehorseandmilkingthecows；orperhapsshemightgoupinthewoodsandwaituntilshesawhimdrivingaway。

TheDeaconatehisbreakfastinsilence，lookingandactingverymuchasusual，forhewasgenerallydumbatmeals。Whenheleftthehouse，however，andclimbedintothewagon，heturnedaroundandsaidinhisordinarygruffmanner："Bringthelunchuptothefieldyourselfto—day，Patience。TellyoursisterIhopeshe’scometohersensesinthecourseofthenight。You’vegottolearn，bothofyou，thatmy’say—so’mustbelawinthishouse。

Youcanfussandyoucanfume，ifitamusesyouany，but’twon’tdonogood。Don’tencourageWaitstillinanywhinin’norblubberin’。JesttellhertocomeinandgotoworkandI’11

overlookwhatshedonethistime。Anddon’tyougivemeanymoreofyoureye—snappin’andlip—poutin’andhead—in—the—airimperdence！

You’reunderage，andifyoudon’tlookout，you’llgetsomethingthat’sgoodforwhatailsyou！Youtwogirlsjestaidan’abetoneanotherthat’swhatyoudo，aidan’abetoneanother，anifyoucarryitanyfurtherI’llfindsomewayo’separatin’you，doyouhear？"

Pattyspokeneveraword，norflutteredaneyelash。Shehadaproperspirit，butnowherheartwascoldwithanewfear，andshefelt，withWaitstill，thatherfathermustbeobeyedandhistemperkeptwithinbounds，untilGodprovidedthemawayofescape。

Sheranouttothebarnchamberand，notfindingWaitstill，lookedacrossthefieldandsawhercomingthroughthepathfromthewoods。Pattywavedherhand，andrantomeethersister，joyatthemerefactofherexistence，ofbeingabletoseeheragain，andofhearingherdearvoice，almostchokingherinitsintensity。Whentheyreachedthehouseshehelpedherupstairsasifshewereachild，broughthercoolwatertowashawaythedustofthehaymow，laidoutsomecleanclothesforher，andfinallyputherontheloungeinthedarkenedsitting—room。

"Iwon’tletanybodycomenearthehouse，"shesaid，"andyoumusthaveacupofteaandagoodsleepbeforeItellyouallthatfathersaid。Justcomfortyourselfwiththethoughtthatheisgoingto’overlookit’thistime！AfterIcarryuphisluncheon，IshallstopatthestoreandaskCephastocomeoutontheriverbankforafewminutes。ThenIshallproceedtosaywhatIthinkofhimfortellingfatherwhereyouwentyesterdayafternoon。"

"Don’tblameCephas！"Waitstillremonstrated。"Can’tyouseejusthowithappened？HeandUncleBartweresittinginfrontoftheshopwhenIdroveby。Whenfathercamehomeandfoundthehouseemptyandthehorsenotinthestall，ofcourseheaskedwhereI

was，andCephasprobablysaidhehadseenmedriveupSacoHill。

Hehadnoreasontothinkthattherewasanyharminthat。"

"Ifhehadanysensehemightknowthatheshouldn’ttellanythingtofatherexceptwhathappensinthestore，"Pattyinsisted。"Wereyoufrightenedoutinthebarnalonelastnight，poordear？"

"IwastoounhappytothinkoffearandIwaschieflynervousaboutyou，allaloneinthehousewithfather。"

"Ididn’tlikeitverymuch，myself！Ibuttonedmybedroomdoorandsatbythewindowallnight，shiveringandbristlingattheleastsound。Everybodycallsmeacoward，butI’mnot！Courageisn’tnotbeingfrightened；it’snotscreechingwhenyouarefrightened。Now，whathappenedattheBoyntons’？"

"Patty，Ivory’smotheristhemostpatheticcreatureIeversaw！"

AndWaitstillsatuponthesofa，herlongbraidsofhairhangingoverhershoulders，herpalefaceshowingthetracesofherheavyweeping。"Ineverpitiedanyonesomuchinmywholelife！Togoupthatlong，longlane；tocomeuponthatdrearyhousehiddenawayinthetrees；tofeelthelonelinessandthesilence；andthentoknowthatsheislivingtherelikeahermit—thrushinaforest，withoutawomantocareforher，itisheart—breaking！"

"Howdoesthehouselook，——dreadful？"

"No：everythingisasneataswax。Sheisn’t’crazy，’Patty，asweunderstandtheword。Hermindisbecloudedsomehowanditalmostseemsasifthecloudmightliftatanymoment。Shegoesaboutlikesomebodyinadream，sewingorknittingorcooking。Itisonlywhenshetalks，andyounoticethathereyesreallyseenothing，butarelookingbeyondyou，thatyouknowthereisanythingwrong。"

"Ifsheappearssolikeotherpeople，whydon’ttheneighborsgotoseeheronceinawhile？"

"Callersmakeherunhappy，shesays，andIvorytoldmethathedarednotencourageanycompanyinthehouseforfearofexcitingher，andmakingheranobjectofgossip，besides。Heknowsherwaysperfectlyandthatsheissafeandcontentwithherfancieswhensheisalone，whichisseldom，afterall。"

"Whatdoesshetalkabout？"askedPatty。

"Herhusbandmostly。Sheisexpectinghimtocomebackdaily。Weknewthatbefore，ofcourse，butnoonecanrealizeittilltheyseehersettingthetableforhimandputtingasaucerofwildstrawberriesbyhisplate；goingaboutthekitchensoftly，likeagentleghost。"

"Itgivesmetheshudders！"saidPatty。"Icouldn’tbearit！Ifsheneverseesstrangers，whatintheworlddidshemakeofyou？

Howdidyoubegin？"

"ItoldherIhadknownIvoryeversincewewereschoolchildren。

Shewasratherstrangeandindifferentatfirst，andthensheseemedtotakeafancytome。"

"That’squeer！"saidPatty，smilingfondlyandgivingWaitstill’shairthehastybrushofakiss。

"Shetoldmeshehadhadagirlbaby，borntwoorthreeyearsafterIvory，andthatshehadalwaysthoughtitdiedwhenitwasafewweeksold。Thensuddenlyshecameclosertome——

"Oh！Waity，weren’tyouterrified？"

"No，notintheleast。Neitherwouldyouhavebeenifyouhadbeenthere。SheputherarmsroundmeandallatonceI

understoodthatthepoorthingmistookmejustforamomentforherowndaughtercomebacktolife。ItwasasuddenfancyandI

don’tthinkitlasted，butIdidn’tknowhowtodealwithit，orcontradictit，soIsimplytriedtosootheherandlethereaseherheartbytalkingtome。ShesaidwhenIlefther：’Whereisyourhouse？Ihopeitisnear！Docomeagainandsitwithme。

Strengthflowsintomyweaknesswhenyouholdmyhand！’Isomehowfeel，Patty，thatsheneedsawomanfriendevenmorethanadoctor。Andnow，whatamItodo？HowcanIforsakeher；andyethereisthisnewdifficultywithfather？"

"Ishouldn’tforsakeher；gotherewhenyoucan，butbemorecarefulaboutit。Youtoldfatherthatyoudidn’tregretwhatyouhaddone，andthatwhenheorderedyoutodounreasonablethings，youshoulddisobeyhim。Afterall，youarenotablackslave。

Fatherwillneverthinkofthatparticularthingagain，perhaps，anymorethanheeveralludedtomydrivingtoSacowithMrs。Dayafteryouhadtoldhimitwasnecessaryforoneofustogothereoccasionally。Heknowsthatifheistoohardonus，Dr。PerryorUncleBartwouldtakehiminhand。Theywouldhavedoneitlongagoifwehadevergivenanyoneevenahintofwhatwehavetoendure。Youwillbeallright，becauseyouonlywanttodokind，neighborlythings。Iamtheonethatwillalwayshavetosuffer，becauseIcan’tprovethatit’saChristiandutytodeceivefatherandstealofftoadanceorafrolic。YetImightaswellbeanuninaconventforallthefunIget！Iwantawhitebook—muslindress；Iwantapairofthinshoeswithbuckles；I

wantawhitehatwithawreathofyellowroses；IwantavolumeofByron’spoems；andoh！nobodyknows——nobodybuttheLordcouldunderstand——howIwantastringofgoldbeads。"

"Patty，Patty！Tohearyouchatteranybodywouldimagineyouthoughtofnothingbutfrivolities。Iwishyouwouldn’tdoyourselfsuchinjustice；evenwhennobodyhearsyoubutme，itiswrong。"

"SometimeswhenyouthinkI’mtalkingnonsenseit’sreallythegospeltruth，"saidPatty。"I’mnotagrand，splendidcharacter，Waitstill，andit’snouseyourdeceivingyourselfaboutme；ifyoudo，you’llbedisappointed。"

"Goandparboilthebeansandgetthemintothepot，Patty。Pickupsomeofthewindfallsandmakeagreen—applepie，andI’llbewithyouinthekitchenmyselfbeforelong。Ineverexpecttobedisappointedinyou，Patty，onlycontinuallysurprisedandpleased。"

"IthoughtI’dbeginmakingsomesoftsoapto—day，"saidPattymischievously，asshelefttheroom。"Wehaveenoughgreasesavedup。Wedon’treallyneedityet，butitmakessuchadisgustingsmellthatI’dratherlikefathertohaveitwithhisdinner。

It’snotmuchofapunishmentforoursleeplessnight。"

AUTUMN

XVII

ABRACEOFLOVERS

HAYINGwasover，andtheclose，stickydog—days，too，andAugustwasslippingintoSeptember。Therehadbeenplentyofrainalltheseasonandthecountrysidewaslookingasfreshandgreenasanemerald。Thehillsideswerealreadyclothedwithaverdantgrowthofnewgrassand"TheredpennonsofthecardinalflowersHungmotionlessupontheiruprightstaves。"

Howtheygleamedinthemeadowgrassesandalongthebrooksideslikebrilliantflecksofflame，givinganewbeautytothenosegaysthatWaitstillcarriedorsenttoMrs。Boyntoneveryweek。

Totheeyeofthecasualobserver，lifeinthetwolittlevillagesbytheriver’sbrinkwentonaspeacefullyasever，butthereweresubtlechangestakingplacenevertheless。CephasColehad"asked"thesecondtimeandagainhadbeenrefusedbyPatty，sothatevenaveryidiotforhopefulnesscouldnoturgehisfathertoputanotherstoryontheell。

"IfitturnsouttobePhoebeDay，"thoughtCephasdolefully，"tworoomsisplentygoodenough，an’Ishan’tblockupthedoorthatleadsfromthemainpart，neither，asIthoughtlikelyI

should。Ifsobeit’sgottobePhoebe，notPatty，Ishan’tcarewhethermothertroopsout’n’inornot。"AndCephasdealtoutriceandteaandcoffeewithsolanguidanair，andmadesuchfrequentmistakesinweighingthesugar，thathedrewuponhimselfmanyasharprebukefromtheDeacon。

"OfcourseI’dclubhimovertheheadwithasaltfishtwiceadayunderord’narycircumstances，"CephasconfidedtohisfatherwithavaliantairthatheneverworeinDeaconBaxter’spresence；"butI’vegotareason，knowntonobodybutmyself，forwantin’tostan’wellwiththeoldmanforaspelllonger。IfeverIquitwantin’tostan’wellwithhim，he’llgethiscomeuppance，shortansudden！"

"Speakin’o’standin’wellwithfolks，PhilPerry’skindo’

makin’uptoPatienceBaxter，ain’the，Cephas？"askedUncleBartguardedly。"Mebbeyouwouldn’tnoticeit，hevin’nopartic’larint’rest，butyourmother’skindogottheideeintoherheadlately，an’she’sturriblefar—sighted。"

"Iguessit’sso！"Cephasrespondedgloomily。"It’snipan’tuck’tweenhiman’MarkWilson。

Thatgirldraws’emasmolassesdoesflies！Shedoesit’thoutliftin’afinger，too，nomore’nthemolassesdoes。Shejustsetsstillan’IS！An’allthetimeshe’snothin’butaflightylittlered—headedspitfirethatdon’tknowagoodhusbandwhensheseesone。Thefellerthatgitsherwilllivetoregretit，that’smyopinion！"AndCephasthoughttohimself："GoodLord，don’tIwishIwasregrettin’itthisveryminute！"

"Is’poseagirllikePhoebeDay’dbeconsid’ablelesstroubletolivewith？"venturedUncleBart。

"Inevercouldtakeanyfancytothattowhairo’hern！IlikethecolorwellenoughwhenI’mpeelingitoffacorncob，butI

don’tlikeitonagirl’shead，"objectedCephashypercritically。

"An’hereyeshain’tgotenoughbluein’emtobeblue：they’rejestlikeskim—milk。An’shekeepshermouthopenalittlemiteallthetime，jestasiftherewa’n’tnogooddraughtthrough，an’shewasa—tryin’togitair。An’’twasmethatbeguncallin’

her’FeeblePhoebeinschool，an’thescholars’llneverforgitit；they’dthrowituptomethewhole’durin’timeifIshouldgotoworkan’keepcompanywithher！"

"Mebbethey’veforgotbythistime，"UncleBartrespondedhopefully；"though’tisanawfulreskwhenyouthinko’

CompanionPike！SamuelhewasbaptizedandSamuelhecontinuedtobe，"tillhemarriedtheWidderBixbyfromWaterboro。Bein’ashowtherewa’n’tnothin’partic’lyattractive’bouthim，——thoughhewasasniceafelleraseverlived，——somebodyaskedherwhyshemarriedhim，an’shesaidhercathedjestdiedan’shewantedacompanion。Theboysneverletgoo’thatstory！SamuelPikeheceasedtobethirtyyearago，an’CompanionPikehe’sremaineduptothisinstantminute！"

"Heain’tliveduptohisnamemuch，"remarkedCephas。"He’stohomeforhismeals，butIguesshiswifeneverseeshimbetweentimes。"

"Ifthecathedlivedmebbeshe’d’a’beenbettercomp’nyonthewhole，"chuckledUncleBart。"Companionwasallerskindo’dreamyan’absent—mindedfromaboy。Irememberaskin’himwhathiswife’sChristiannamewas（shebein’astrangertoRiverboro）an’

hesaidhedidn’tknow！SaidhecalledherMis’Bixbyaforehemarriedheran’Mis’Pikeafterwards！"