第12章

"Notinpublic；sotheymeet’emsideo’theriverorroundthecornerofBart’sshop，oranywheretheycan，whentheDeacon’sback’sturned。IfyoutiedahandkerchiefoverWaitstill’seyesshecouldfindherwayblindfoldtoIvoryBoynton’shouse，butshe’sgoodasgold，Waitstillis；she’llstaywhereherdutycallsher，everytime！Ifanymisfortuneorscandalshouldcomenearthemtwogirls，theDeaconwillhaveno—bodybuthimselftothankforit，that’sonesurething！"

"Youngfolkscan’tbeyoungbutonce，"sighedMrs。Day。"I

thoughtwehadashandsomeaturn—outattheentertainmentlastevenin’asanyvillageontheSacoRivercould’a’furnished：an’

myPhoebean’yourCephas，ifIdosaysoasshouldn’t，wasaboutthebest—dressedan’best—appearin’coupletherewaspresent。

Also，Iguesslikely，they’restartin’outwithasgoodprospectsasanybridean’groomthat’swalkedupthemiddleaisleo’themeetin’—houseformanyayear……How’dyoulikethatBostonsingerthattheWilsonsbroughthere，Abby？——Waitaminute，isCephas，ortheDeacon，tendin’storethisafter—noon？"

"TheDeacon；Cephasispaintin’uptotheMills。"

"Well，MarkWilson’shorsean’buggyismeanderin’slowlydownAuntBetty—Jack’shill，an’Markisstudyin’theroadasifhewaslookin’forafour—leafedclover。"

"He’llhitchatthetavern，ortheEdgewoodstore，an’waithischancetogetawordwithPatience，"saidAuntAbby。"HeknowswhenshetakesmilktotheMorrills’，orbuttertotheparsonage；

alsowhensheeatsan’drinksan’winkshereyean’ketchesherbreathan’liftsherfoot。Nowhe’sdisappearedan’we’llwait……Why，astothatBostonsinger，——an’bytheway，theysayEllenWilson’sgoin’totakelessonsofherthiswinter，——shekindo’bewilderedme，Lyddy！Ofcourse，Iain’tneverbeentoanycities，soIdon’tfeelaltogetherfreetocriticise；butwhatdidyouthinkofher，whensherunupsohighthere，onetime？Idon’tknowhowhighshewent，butIguesstherewa’n’tnohighertogo！"

"Itmademekindo’nervous，"allowedMrs。Day。

"Nervous！Bart’an’Ibrokeoutinacoldsweat！Hesaidshecouldn’tholdacandletoWaitstillBaxter。Butit’sthatlittlefly—awayWilsongirlthat’llgetthelessons，an’Waitstillwillhavetousehervoicecallin’theDeaconhometodinner。Thingsain’tdividedanytoowellinthisworld，Lyddy。"

"Waitstill’sgotthevoice，butshelacksthetrainin’。TheBostonsingerknowsherbusiness，I’llsaythatforher，"saidMrs。Day。

"She’sgotgoodstayin’power，"agreedAuntAbby。"Didyounoticehowsheheldontothathighnotewhenshe’dclumbwhereshewantedtogit？She’sgotbreathenoughtorunagristmill，thatgirlhas！Andhow’dshecomedown，whenshegotgoodandreadytostart？Why，shezig—zaggedan’saw—toothedthewholeway！Itkindo’mademyfleshcreep！"

"Iguessparto’thetrouble’swithuscountryfolks，"Mrs。Dayresponded，"forfolkssaidshesungrunsandtrillsbetter’nanywomanuptoBoston。"

"Runsan’trills，"ejaculatedAbbyscornfully。"Iwastalkin’

’boutsingin’notrunnin’。MynieceEllauptoParsonfieldhastakenthreetermsonthepianneran’I’veheerdherpractise。

Scaleshasgottobedone，nodoubt，butthey’doughttobedonetohome，wheretheybelong；aconcertain’tnoplacefor’em……There，whatdidItellyer？PatienceBaxter’scrossin’thebridgewithapailinherhand。She’sgotthateverlastin’

yeller—brown，linsey—woolseyon，an’awhite’cloud’wrappedaroundherheadwithcon’sid’ableredhairshowin’asusual。Youcanalwaysseeherfur’syoucanasunrise！AndtheregoesRodBoynton，chasin’behindasusual。ThoseBaxtergirlsmakeaperfectfoolo’thatboy，butIdon’ts’poseLoisBoynton’sgotwitenoughtomakemuchfussoverthepoorlittlecreeter！"

MarkWilsoncouldcertainlyseePattyBaxterasfarashecouldasunrise，althoughhewasnotintimatelyacquaintedwiththatnaturalphenomenon。Hetookacircuitousroutefromhiswatch—tower，and，knowingwellthepointfromwhichtherecouldbenoespionagefromDeaconBaxter’sstorewindows，joinedPattyintheroad，tookthepailfromherhand，andwalkedupthehillbesideher。Ofcourse，thevillagecouldseethem，but，asAuntAbbyhadintimated，therewasn’taman，woman，orchildoneithersideoftheriverwhowouldn’thavetakenthepartoftheBaxtergirlsagainsttheirfather。

XXIV

PHOEBETRIUMPHS

MEANTIMEFeeblePhoebeDaywasdrivingherfather’shorseuptotheMillstobringCephasColehome。Itwasathrillingmoment，asortofoutwardandvisiblesignofaninwardandspiritualtie，fortheirbannsweretobepublishedthenextday，sowhatdiditmatterifthecommunity，nay，ifthewholeuniverse，speculatedastowhyshewasdrawingherbelovedbackfromhisdailytoil？

IthadbeenaneventfulautumnforCephas。AfterathirdrequestforthehandofMissPatienceBaxter，andarefusalofevenmorethancommondecisionandenergy，CephasturnedaboutfaceandemployedtheentiremonthofSeptemberinadeterminedassaultupontheaffectionsofMissLucyMorrill，butwithnobetteravail。Hisheartwasnotardentlyinvolvedinthissecondwooing，butwinterwasapproaching，hehadmovedhismotheroutofhersummerquartersbacktothemainhouse，andhedoggedlybeganpaperingtheellandfurnishingthekitchenwithoutdisclosingtohisrespectedparentstheidentityoftheladyforwhosecomforthewassohospitablypreparing。

Cephas’sbeliefintheholystateofmatrimonyasbeingtheonlyoneproperforaman，reallyoughttohavecommendedhimtotheopposite（andungrateful）sexmorethanitdid，andLucyMorrillheldasrespectfulanopinionoftheinstitutionanditsmanifoldadvantagesasCephashimself，butshewasinaveryunsettledframeofmindandnotatallsusceptibletowooing。ShehadastrongpreferenceforPhilipPerry，andheldanopinion，notaltogetherunfoundedinhumanexperience，thatincourseoftime，whenquitedesertedbyPattyBaxter，hisheartmightpossiblybecaughtontherebound。Itwasonlyachance，butLucywouldalmosthavepreferredremainingunmarried，eventothewitheringageoftwenty—five，ratherthannotbeatlibertytoacceptPhilipPerryincasesheshouldbeasked。

Cephastherefore，bythemiddleofOctober，couldbepicturesquelyandalliterativelydescribedasbeingrawfromrepeatedrejections。Hisbruisedheartandhisdespisedellliterallycriedoutfortheappreciationsolongandblindlywithheld。NowallatoncePhoebedisclosedasecondvirtue；herfirstandonlyone，hitherto，intheeyesofCephas，havingbeenanabilitytogetonwithhismother，afeatinwhichmanyhadmadeaneffortandfewindeedhadsucceeded。Phoebe，itseems，hadalwayssecretlyadmired，respected，andlovedCephasCole！

Neversinceherpaleandsomewhatglassyblueeyehadopenedonlifehadshebeheldabeingshecouldsoadoreifencouragedintheattitude。

ThemomentthisunusualandunexpectedpoulticewasreallyappliedtoCephas’swounds，theybegantoheal。Inthecourseofamonththemostordinaryobservercouldhaveperceivedaphysicalchangeinhim。Hecringednomore，butheldhisheadhigher；hisbackstraightened；hisvoicedevelopedagruff，assertivenote，likethatofasternRomanfather；helethismoustachegrow，andsometimes，inhismostrecklessmoments，twiddledtheendofit。Finallyheswaggered；butthatwasonlyafterPhoebehadacceptedhimandtoldhimthatifagirltraversedtheentirelengthoftheSacoRiver（whichshepresumedtobethelongestintheworld，theAmazonnotbeingfamiliartoher），shecouldnothopetofindhisequalasahusband。

Andthencongratulationsbegantopourin！Wasevermarriagesofortuitous！TheColes’farmjoinedthatoftheDaysandtheunionbetweenthetwoonlychildrenwouldcementthefriendshipbetweenthefamilies。ThefactthatUncleBartwasajoiner，Cephasapainter，andAbelDayamasonandbricklayermadethealliancealmostprovidentialinitsbusinessopportunities。Phoebe’sMassachusettsauntsentacompleteoutfitofgilt—edgedchina，aclock，andamahoganychamberset。AuntAbbyrelinquishedtotheyoungcoupleabedroomandasparechamberinthe"mainpart，"

whiletheDayssuppliedlive—geesefeathersandtableandbed—linenwithpositiveprodigality。AuntAbbytrodtheairlikeoneinspired。"Balmy"istheonlyadjectivethatcoulddescribeher。

"IfonlyIcould’a’lookedahead，"smiledUncleBartquizzicallytohimself，"I’d’a’hadthirteensonsanddaughtersan’marriedoffoneof’emeveryyear。Thatwould’a’madeAbby’sgoodtemperkindo’permanent。"

Cephaswascontent，too。Therewasagooddealinbeingsettledandhaving"thewholedoggonedbusiness"offyourhands。Phoebelookedaverydifferentcreaturetohimintheselatterdays。Hereyeswerejustaspale，ofcourse，buttheywerebrighter，andtheyradiatedloveforhim，anexpressioninthefemaleeyethathehadthusfarbeensingularlyunfortunateinsecuring。Shestillheldhermouthslightlyopen，butCephasthoughtthatitmightbepermissible，perhapsafterthreemonthsofweddedbliss，torequesthertobemorecarefulinclosingit。Hebelieved，too，thatshewouldmakeanefforttodosojusttopleasehim；

whereasaman’slifeorpropertywouldnotbesafeforasingleinstantifheaskedMissPatienceBaxtertoclosehermouth，notifhehadbeenmarriedtoherforthirtytimesthreemonths！

CephasdidnotthinkofPattyanylongerwithbitterness，inthesedays，beingoftheopinionthatshewaspunishedenoughinobservinghisowngrowingpopularityandprosperity。

"IfsheshouldseethatmahoganychambersetgoingintotheellI

guessshe’dbegladenoughtochangehertune！"thoughtCephas，exultingly；andthentheresuddenlyshotthroughhismindthepassingfancy——"Iwonderifshewould！"Hepromptlybanishedtheinfamoussuggestionhowever，reinforcinghisvirtuewiththereflectionthatthechambersetwasPhoebe’s，anyway，andthemarriagedayappointed，andtheinvitationsgivenout，andthewedding—cakebeingbaked，aloafatatime，byhismotherandMrs。Day。

AsamatteroffactPattywouldhavehadnoeyesforPhoebe’smagnificentmahogany，evenhadthecartthatcarrieditpassedheronthehillwheresheandMarkWilsonwerewalking。Herpromisetomarryhimwasafewweeksoldnow，andhisarmencircledherslenderwaistunderthebrownhomespuncape。Thatinitselfwasanewsensationandgaveherthedelicioussenseofbelongingtosomebodywhovaluedherhighly，andassuredherofhissentimentsclearlyandfrequently，bothbywordanddeed。

Life，dullgraylife，wasgoingtochangeitshueforherpresently，andnotlongafter，shehoped，forWaitstill，too！Itneededonlyabrighter，amoredauntlesscourage；alittlefaiththatnettles，whenfirmlygrasped，hurtthehandless，andafairerfuturewoulddawnforbothofthem。TheDeaconwasasharpernettlethanshehadevermeddledwithbefore，butinthesedays，whentheactualcontacthadnotyetoccurred，shefeltsureofherselfandlongedforthemomentwhenherpluckshouldbetestedandproved。

The"publishing"ofCephasandhisthirdchoice，theirdullwalkuptheaisleofthemeeting—housebeforeanadmiringthrong，ontheSundaywhenPhoebewould"appearbride，"allthisseemedverytameascomparedwiththedreamsofthisardentandadventurouspairofloverswhohadgoneaboutfordaysharboringsecretsgreaterandmoredaring，theythought，thanhadeverbeenbreathedbeforewithinthehearingofSacoWater。

XXV

LOVE’SYOUNGDREAMS

ITwasnotanafternoonforday—dreams，fortherewasachillintheairandagraysky。OnlyaweekbeforethehillsalongtherivermighthavebeenthewallsoftheNewJerusalem，shininglikeredgold；nowthegloryhaddepartedanditwasanakedworld，withemptynestshangingtoboughsthatnotlongagohadbeengreenwithsummer。Theoldelmbythetavern，thathadbeenwrappedinabrighttrailofscarletwoodbine，wasstrippedalmostbareofitsautumnbeauty。Hereandthereamapleshowedaremnantofcrimson，andastalwartoakhadsomeragsofrussetstillclingingtoitsgauntboughs。Thehickorytreesflungoutafewyellowflagsfromtheendsoftheirtwigs，buttheforestsworeatatteredanddishevelledlook，andthewitheredleavesthatlayindriedheapsuponthefrozenground，drivenhitherandthitherbyeverygustofthenorthwind，gavetheunthinkingheartathrobofforeboding。Yetthegladsummerlaborofthosesameleaveswasfinishedaccordingtothelawthatgovernedthem，andthefruitwastheirsandtheseedforthecomingyear。Nobreezehadbeenstrongenoughtoshakethemfromthetreetilltheywerereadytoforsakeit。Nowtheyhadseveredthebondthathadheldthemsotightlyandfluttereddowntogivetheearthalltheirseason’searnings。Oneveryhillside，ineveryvalleyandglen，theleavesthathadmadethesummerlandscapebeautiful，laycontentedly：

"Wheretherainmightrainuponthem，Wherethesunmightshineuponthem，Wherethewindmightsighuponthem，Andthesnowmightdieuponthem。"

Brown，withered，dead，buriedinsnowtheymightbe，yettheywereministeringtoalltheleavesofthenextspring—time，bequeathingtotheminturnthebeautythathadbeentheirs；theleafycanopiesforcountlesssongbirds，thegratefulshadeformanandbeast。

YounglovethoughtlittleofNature’smiracles，andheartsthatbeathighandfastwerewarmenoughtoforgetthebleakwindandgatheringclouds。Iftherewerenakedtrees，weretherenotfullbarrelsofapplesineverycellar？Iftherewasnothingbutstubbleinthefrozenfields，why，therewasplentyofwheatandcornatthemillallreadyforgrinding。Thecoldairmadeonelongforacheeryhomeandfireside，thecrackleofahearth—log，thebubblingofasteamingkettle；andPattyandMarkclungtogetherastheywalkedalong，makingbrightimagesofalifetogether，snug，warm，andhappy。

Pattywasacapriciouscreature，butallherchangesweresuddenandendearingones，captivatingthosewholovedhermorethanamonotonousandunchangingvirtue。Anylittleshower，withPatty，alwaysendedwitharainbowthatmadethelandscapemoreenchantingthanbefore。Oflateherlittlecoquetriesandpetulanceshaddisappearedasifbymagic。Shehadbeenmeltedsomehowfromirresponsiblegirlhoodintowomanhood，andthat，too，bytheardentaffectionofaveryordinaryyoungmanwhohadnogreatgiftsavethatoflovingPattygreatly。Thelovehadserveditspurpose，inanotherway，too，forunderitsinfluenceMark’sownmanhoodhadbroadenedanddeepened。HelongedtobindPattytohimforgoodandall，tocapturethebrightbirdwhoseflutteringwingsandburnishedplumagesocapturedhissensesandstirredhisheart，buthislongingshadchangedwiththequalityofhisloveandheglowedatthethoughtofdeliveringthegirlfromherdrearysurroundingsandgivingherthetenderness，theeaseandcomfort，theinnocentgayety，thathernaturecraved。

"Youwon’tfailme，Pattydarling？"hewassayingatthismoment。

"Nowthatourplansarefinallymade，withneveraweakpointanywhereasfarasIcansee，myheartissosetuponcarryingthemoutthateveryhourofwaitingseemsanage！"

"No，Iwon’tfail，Mark；butIneverknowthedaythatfatherwillgototownuntilthenightbefore。Icanalwayshearhimmakinghispreparationsinthebarnandtheshed，andorderingWaitstillhereandthere。HeisasexcitedasifhewasgoingtoBostoninsteadofMilltown。"

"Thenightbeforewilldo。Iwillwatchthehouseeveryeveningtillyouhangawhitesignalfromyourwindow。"

"Itwon’tbewhite，"saidPatty，whowouldbemischievousonherdeathbed；"mySunday—go—to—meetin’petticoatistoogrand，andeverythingelsethatwehaveisyellow。"

"Ishallseeit，whatevercoloritis，youcanbesureofthat！"

saidMarkgallantly。"Thenit’sdecidedthatnextmorningI’11

waitatthetavernfromsunrise，andwheneveryourfatherandWaitstillhavedrivenupSacoHill，I’llcomeandpickyouupandwe’11beofflikeastreakoflightningacrossthehillstoNewHampshire。HowluckythatRiverboroisonlythirtymilesfromthestateline！——Itlookslikesnow，andhowIwishitwouldbesomethingmorethanaflurry；aregularwhizzing，whirringstormthatwouldpacktheroadsandletusslipoverthemwithoursleigh—bellsringing！"

"Ishouldlikethat，fortheywouldbeouronlywedding—bells。

Oh！Mark！WhatifWaitstillshouldn’tgo，afterall：thoughI

heardfathertellherthatheneededhertobuythingsforthestore，andthattheywouldn’tbebacktillafternightfall。JusttothinkofbeingmarriedwithoutWaitstill！"

"YoucandowithoutWaitstillonthisoneoccasion，betterthanyoucanwithoutme，"laughedMark，pinchingPatty’scheek。"I’vegiventhetownclerkduenoticeandIhaveafriendtomeetmeathisoffice。Heisgoingtolendmehishorseforthedrivehome，andweshallchangebackthenextweek。Thatwillgiveusafreshhorseeachway，andwe’llflylikethewind，snowornosnow，WhenwecomedownGuideBoardHillthatnight，Patty，weshallbemanandwife；isn’tthatwonderful？"

"WeshallbemanandwifeinNewHampshire，butnotinMaine，yousay，"Pattyremindedhimdolefully。"Itdoesseemdreadfulthatwecan’tbemarriedinourownstate，andhavetogodanglingaboutwiththissecretonourminds，dayandnight；butitcan’tbehelped！You’lltrynottoeventhinkofmeasyourwifetillwegotoPortsmouthtolive，won’tyou？"

You’reaskingtoomuchwhenyousayI’mnottothinkofyouasmywife，forIshallthinkofnothingelse，butI’vegivenyoumysolemnpromise，"saidMarkstoutly，"andI’llkeepitassureasIlive。We’llbelegallymarriedbythelawsofNewHampshire，butwewon’tthinkofitasamarriagetillItellyourfatherandmine，andwedriveawayoncemoretogether。Thattimeitwillbeinthesightofeverybody，withourheadsintheair。I’vegotthelittlehouseinPortsmouthallready，Patty：it’ssmall，butit’sinanicepartofthetown。Portsmouthisaprettyplace，butit’llbeagreatdealprettierwhenithasMrs。MarkWilsonlivinginit。WecanbemarriedoveragaininMaine，afterwards，ifyourheartissetuponit。I’mwillingtomarryyouineverystateoftheUnion，sofarasIamconcerned。"

"Ithinkyou’vebeensokindandgoodandthoughtful，Markdear，"

saidPatty，morefondlyandmeltinglythanshehadeverspokentohimbefore，"andsoclevertoo！IdorespectyouforgettingthatgoodpositioninPortsmouthandbeingabletosetupforyourselfatyourage。Ishouldn’twonderabitifyouwereajudgesomeday，andthenwhataproudgirlIshallbe！"

Patty’spraisewasbestowednonetoofrequently，anditsoundedverysweetintheyoungman’sears。

"IdobelieveIcangeton，withyoutohelpme，Patty，"hesaid，pressingherarmmorecloselytohisside，andlookingdownardentlyintoherradiantface。"You’reagreatdealclevererthanIam，butIhaveafacultyforthebusinessofthelaw，somyfathersays，andafacultyformoney—making，too。Andevenifwehavetobegininasmallway，mysalarywillbeacertainty，andwe’11workuptogether。Icanseeyouinayellowsatindress，stiffenoughtostandalone！"

"Itmustbewhitesatin，ifyouplease，notyellow！Afterhavingusedahundredandtenyardsofshop—wornyellowcalicoonmyselfwithintwoyears，Ineverwanttowearthatcoloragain。IfonlyIcouldcometoyoubetterprovided，shesighed，withthesuggestionoftearsinhervoice。"IfI’dbeenacommonservantI

couldhavesavedsomethingfrommywagestobemarriedon；I

haven’tevengotanythingtobemarriedIN！"

"I’11getyouanythingyouwantinPortlandto—morrow。"

"Certainlynot；I’dratherbemarriedinragsthanhaveyouspendyourmoneyuponmebeforehand！"

"Remembertohaveaboxofyourbelongingspackedandslippedundertheshedsomewhere。Youcan’tbecertainwhatyourfatherwillsayordowhenthetimecomesfortellinghim，andIwantyoutobereadytoleaveonamoment’snotice。"

"Iwill；I’lldoeverythingyousay，Mark，butareyousurethatwehavethoughtofeveryotherway？Idosohatebeingunderhanded。"

"Everyotherway！Iammorethanwillingtoaskyourfather，butweknowhewouldtreatmewithcontempt，forhecan’tbearthesightofme！Hewouldprobablylockyouupandfeedyouonbreadandwater。Thatbeingthestateofthings，howcanItellourplanstomyownfather？Heneverwouldlookwithfavoronmyrunningawaywithyou；andmotheris，bynature，setupondoingthingshandsomelyandinproperorder。Fatherwouldsayourelopementwouldbeputtingusbothwrongbeforethecommunity，andhe’dadvisemetowait。’Youarebothyoung’——Icanhearhimannouncinghisconvictionsnow，asclearlyasifhewasstandinghereintheroad——’Youarebothyoungandyoucanwellaffordtowaituntilsomethingturnsup。’Asifwehadn’twaitedandwaitedfromalleternity！"

"Yes，wehavebeenengagedtobemarriedforatleastfiveweeks，"saidPatty，withanupwardglancepeculiartoherownsparklingface，——onethatalwaysintoxicatedMark。"Iamseventeenandahalf；yourfathercouldn’texpectaconfirmedoldmaidlikemetowasteanymoretime。

ButIneverwoulddothis——this——sudden，unrespectablething，iftherewasanyotherway。EverythingdependsonmykeepingitsecretfromWaitstill，butshedoesn’tsuspectanythingyet。Shethinksofmeasnothingbutachildstill。DoyousupposeEllenwouldgowithus，justtogivemealittlecomfort？"

"Shemight，"saidMark，afterreflectingamoment。"Sheisverydevotedtoyou，andperhapsshecouldkeepasecret；sheneverhas，butthere’salwaysafirsttime。Youcan’tgoonaddingtotheparty，though，asifitwasacandy—pull！WecannottakeLucyMorrillandPhoebeDayandCephasCole，becauseitwouldbetoohardonthehorse；andbesides，Imightgetembarrassedatthetownclerk’sofficeandmarrythewronggirl；oryoumightswopmeoffforCephas！ButI’lltellEllenifyousayso；she’sgotplentyofgrit。"

"Don’tjokeaboutit，Mark，don’t。Ishouldn’tmissWaitstillsomuchifIhadEllen，andhowhappyIshallbeifsheapprovesofmeforasisterandthinksyourmotherandfatherwilllikemeintime。"

"Thereneverwasacreaturebornintotheworldthatwouldn’tloveyou，Patty！"

"Idon’tknow；lookatAuntAbbyCole！"saidPattypensively。

"Well，itdoesnotseemasifamarriagethatisn’tgoodinRiverborowasreallydecent！HowtiresomeofMainetowantallthosedaysofpublicnotice；peoplemustsooftenwanttogetmarriedinaminute。IfIthinkaboutanythingtoolongIalwaysgetoutofthenotion。"

"Iknowyoudo；that’swhatI’mafraidof！"——andMark’svoiceshoweddecidednervousness。"Youwon’tgetoutofthenotionofmarryingme，willyou，Pattydear？"

"Marryingyouismorethana’notion，’Mark，"saidPattysoberly。

"I’monlyalittlepastseventeen，butI’mfarolderbecauseofthedifficultiesI’vehad。Idon’twonderyouspeakofmy’notions。’Iwasaslightasafeatherinallmydealingswithyouatfirst。"

"SowasIwithyou！Ihadn’tgrownup，Patty。"

"ThenIcametoknowyoubetterandseehowyousympathizedwithWaitstill’stroublesandmine。Icouldn’tloveanybody，I

couldn’tmarryanybody，whodidn’tfeelthatthingsatourhousecan’tgoonastheyare！Fatherhashadagoodlongtrial！Threewivesandtwodaughtershavedonetheirbesttolivewithhim，andfailed。Iamnotwillingtodieforhim，asmymotherdid，norhaveWaitstillkilledifIcanhelpit。Sometimesheislikeamanwhohaslosthissensesandsometimesheisonlygrimandquietandcruel。Ifhetakesourmarriagewithoutaterriblescene，Mark，perhapsitwillencourageWaitstilltobreakherchainsasIhavemine。"

"There’ssuretobeanawfulrow，"Marksaid，asonewhohadforecastedalltheprobabilities。"Itwouldn’tmakeanydifferenceifyoumarriedthePrinceofWales；nothingwouldsuityourfatherbutselectingthemanandmakingallthearrangements；andthenhewouldneverchooseanyonewhowouldn’ttendthestoreandworkonthefarmforhimwithoutwages。"

"Waitstillwillneverrunaway；sheisn’tlikeme。Shewillsitandsitthere，slavingandsuffering，tilldoomsday；fortheonethatlovesherisn’tfreelikeyou！"

"YoumeanIvoryBoynton？Ibelieveheworshipsthegroundshewalkson。IlikehimbetterthanIused，andIunderstandhimbetter。Oh！butI’maluckyyoungdogtohaveakind，liberalfatherandabitofmoneyputbytodowithasIchoose。IfI

hadn’t，I’dbeeatingmyheartoutlikeIvory！"