第13章

"No，youwouldn’teatyourheartout；you’dalwaysgetwhatyouwantedsomehow，andyouwouldn’twaitforiteither；andI’mjustthesame。I’mnotbuiltforgivingup，andenduring，andsacrificing。I’mnaturallyjustatuftofthistle—down，Mark；butlivingbesideWaitstillalltheseyearsI’vegrownashamedtobesolight，blowingabouthitherandthither。Ikeptlookingatherandborrowingsomeofherstrength，justenoughtomakemeworthytobehersister。WaitstillislikeabitofPlymouthRock，onlyit’salovelybitonthelandside，withearthinthecrevices，andflowersbloomingalloveritandhidingthegranite。Oh！ifonlyshewillforgiveus，Mark，Iwon’tmindwhatfathersaysordoes。"

"Shewillforgiveus，Pattydarling；don’tfret，andcry，andmakeyourprettyeyesallred。I’11donothinginallthistomakeeitherofyougirlsashamedofme，andI’llkeepyourfatherandmineeverbeforemymindtopreventmybeingfoolishorreckless；for，youknow，Patty，I’mheelsoverheadinlovewithyou，andit’sonlyforyoursakeI’mtakingallthesepainsandagreeingtodowithoutmyownweddedwifeforweekstocome！"

"Doesthetownclerk，ordoesthejusticeofthepeacegiveawedding—ring，justliketheminister？"Pattyasked。"Ishouldn’tfeelmarriedwithoutaring。"

"Theringisallready，andhas’M。W。toP。B。’engravedinit，withtheplaceforthedatewaiting；andhereistheengagementringifyou’11wearitwhenyou’realone，Patty。MymothergaveittomewhenshethoughttherewouldbesomethingbetweenAnnabelFranklinandme。ThemomentIlookedatit——youseeit’satopazstone——andnoticedtheyellowfireinit，Isaidtomyself：’ItislikenoonebutPattyBaxter，andifshewon’twearit，noothergirlshall！’It’sthecolorofthetipendsofyourcurlsandit’sjustlikethelightinyoureyeswhenyou’remakingfun！"

"It’sheavenly！"criedPatty。"Itlooksasifithadbeenmadeoftheyellowautumnleaves，andoh！howIlovethesparkleofit！

ButneverwillItakeyourmother’sringorwearit，Mark，tillI’veprovedmyselfherloving，dutifuldaughter。I’lldotheonewrongthingofrunningawaywithyouandconcealingourmarriage，butnotanotherifIcanhelpit。"

"Verywell，"sighedMark，replacingtheringinhispocketwithratheracrestfallenair。"Butthefirstthingyouknowyou’llbetoogoodforme，Patty！Youusedtobearegularwill—o’—the—wisp，allnonsenseandfun，foreverlaughingandteasing，sothatafellowcouldneverbesureofyoufortwominutestogether。"

"It’sallthereunderneath，"saidPatty，puttingherhandonhisarmandturningherwistfulfaceuptohis。"Itwillcomeagain；

thegirlinmeisn’tdead；sheisn’tevenasleep；butshe’sallsobereddown。Shecan’tlaughjustnow，shecanonlysmile；andthetearsarewaitingunderneath。

readytospringoutifanyonesaysthewrongword。ThisPattyisfrightenedandanxiousandherheartbeatstoofastfrommorningtillnight。Shehasn’tanymother，andshecannotsayawordtoherdearsister，andshe’sgoingawaytobemarriedtoyou，that’salmostastranger，andsheisn’teighteen，anddoesn’tknowwhat’scomingtoher，norwhatitmeanstobemarried。Shedreadsherfather’sanger，andshecannotresttillsheknowswhetheryourfamilywillloveherandtakeherin；and，oh！she’samiserable，worriedgirl，notabitliketheoldPatty。"

Markheldhercloseandsmoothedthecurlsundertheloosebrownhood。"Don’tyoufret，Pattydarling！I’mnottheboyIwaslastweek。Everywordyousaymakesmemoreofaman。AtfirstIwouldhaverunawayjustforthejoke；anythingtogetyouawayfromtheotherfellowsandproveIwasthebestman，butnow’I’msobereddown，too。I’lldonothingrash；I’llbeasstaidasthejudgeyouwantmetobetwentyyearslater。You’vemademeover，Patty，andifmyloveforyouwasn’ttherightsortatfirst，itisnow。IwishtheroadtoNewHampshirewasfulloflionsandI

couldfightmywaythroughthemjusttoshowyouhowstrongI

feel！"

"There’llbelionsenough，"smiledPattythroughhertears，"thoughtheywon’thavemanesandtails；butIcanimaginehowfatherwillroar，andhowmycouragewilloozeoutoftheheelsofmyboots！"

"JustletmecatchtheDeaconroaringatmywife！"exclaimedMarkwithaswellingchest。"Now，runalong，Pattydear，forIdon’twantyouscoldedonmyaccount。There’ssuretobeonlyadayortwoofwaitingnow，andIshallsoonseethesignalwavingfromyourwindow。I’llsoundEllenandseeifshe’sbraveenoughtobeoneoftheelopingparty。Good—night！Good—night！Oh！HowI

hopeourgoingawaywillbeto—morrow，mydearest，dearestPatty！"

WINTER

XXVI

AWEDDING—RING

THEsnowhadcome。Ithadbeguntofallsoftlyandsteadilyatthebeginningoftheweek，andnowfordaysithadcoveredthegrounddeeperanddeeper，driftingaboutthelittleredbrickhouseonthehilltop，bankingupagainstthebarn，andshroudingtheshedsandthesmallerbuildings。Therehadbeentwocold，stillnights；thewindowswerecoveredwithsilverylandscapeswhosedelicatefoliagemadeeverypaneofglassaleafybower，whileadazzlingcrustbediamondedthehillsides，sothatnoeyecouldrestonthemlongwithoutbecomingsnow—blinded。

Town—HouseHillwasnotaswelltravelledasmanyothers，andDeaconBaxterhadoftentobreakhisownroaddowntothestore，withoutwaitingforthehelpofthevillagesnow—ploughtomakethingseasierforhim。ManyapathhadWaitstillbrokeninhertime，anditwasbynomeansoneofhermostdistastefultasks——thatofshovellingintothedriftsofheaped—upwhiteness，tossingthemtoonesideortheother，andcuttinganarrow，clean—edgedtrackthatwouldpackdownintothehardnessofmarble。

Thereweremany"chores"tobedonethesecoldmorningsbeforeanyhouseholdcoulddrawabreathofcomfort。TheBaxterskeptbutonecowinwinter，killedthepig，——nottoeat，buttosell，——andreducedtheflockofhensandturkeys；butWaitstillwasalwaysasbusyinthebarnasinherownproperdomain。Herheartyearnedforallthedumbcreaturesabouttheplace，interveningbetweenthemandherfather’sscantycare；andwhenthethermometerdescendedfarbelowzeroshewouldbefoundstuffinghayintotheholesandcracksofthebarnandhen—house，givingthehorseandcowfreshbeddingsofstrawandamouthfulofextrafoodbetweentheslendermealsprovidedbytheDeacon。

Itwasthreeo’clockintheafternoonandafireintheBaxters’

kitchensincesixinthemorninghadproducedafairlytemperateclimateinthatoneroom，thoughtheentriesandchambersmighthavebeenusedforrefrigerators，astheDeaconwasasparsimoniousintheuseoffuelasinallotherthings，andifhisdaughtershadnotbeenhardyyoungcreatures，trainedfromtheirverybirthtodiscomfortsandexposuresofeverysort，theywouldhavediedlongago。

TheBaxterkitchenandglitteredinallitsaccustomedcleanlinessandorder。Scrubbingandpolishingwerecheapamusements，andnobodygrudgedthemtoWaitstill。NotablesinRiverborowerewhiter，notinsmorelustrous，nopewterbrighter，nobrickhearthsruddierthanhers。ThebeansandbrownbreadandIndianpuddingwerebaskinginthewarmthoftheoldbrickoven，andwhatwiththecrackleandsparkleofthefire，thegleamofthebluewillow—wareonthecupboardshelves，andthescarletgeraniumsbloomingonthesunnyshelfabovethesink，therewerefewpleasanterplacetobefoundinthevillagethanthatsameBaxterkitchen。YetWaitstillwasillateasethisafternoon；shehardlyknewwhy。HerfatherhadjustputthehorseintothepunganddrivenuptoMilliken’sMillsforsomegrain，andPattywasdownatthestoreinstructingBillMorrill（CephasCole’ssuccessor）inhisnoveltaskofwaitingoncustomersandlearningthewhereaboutsofthings；noeasytaskinthebewilderingvarietyofstockinacountrystore；wherepins，treacle，gingham，Epsomsalts，Indianmeal，shoestrings，shovels，brooms，sulphur，tobacco，suspenders，rum，andindigomaybedemandedinrapidsuccession。

Pattywasquietanddocilethesedays，thoughhercolorwasmorebrilliantthanusualandhereyeshadalltheiraccustomedsparkle。Shewentaboutherworksteadily，neitherrantingnorrailingatfate，norbewailingherlot，buteveninthisWaitstillfeltasenseofchangeanddifferencetoosubtletobeputinwords。ShehadnotedPatty’ssummerflirtations，butregardedthemindulgently，verymuchasiftheyhadbeentheirresponsiblefriskingsofalambinameadow。Waitstillhadmorethantheusualreserveinthesematters，forinNewEnglandatthattime，thoughthesoulwasasubjectofdailyconversation，theheartwasfelttoberatheranindelicatetopic，tobealludedtoasseldomaspossible。WaitstillcertainlywouldneverhaveexaminedPattycloselyastothestateofheraffections，intimateasshewaswithhersister’sthoughtsandopinionsaboutlife；shesimplybidedhertimeuntilPattyshouldconfideinher。ShehadwishednowandthenthatPatty’scapriciousfancymightsettleonPhilipPerry，although，indeed，whensheconsidereditseriously，itseemedlikeanalliancebetweenabutterflyandanowl。CephasColesheregardedasquitebeneathPatty’srightfulambitions，andasforMarkWilson，shehadgrownupinthebelief，heldinthevillagegenerally，thathewouldmarrymoneyandposition，anddriftoutofRiverborointoagayer，largerworld。Herdevotiontohersisterwassoardent，andheradmirationsosincere，thatshecouldnotthinkitpossiblethatPattywouldloveanywhereinvain；nevertheless，shehadaninstinctthatheraffectionswerecrystallizingsomewhereorother，andwhenthathappened，theuncertainandeccentrictemperofherfatherwouldraiseathousandobstacles。

WhilethesethoughtscoursedmoreorlessvagrantlythroughWaitstill’smind，shesuddenlydeterminedtogethercloakandhoodandrunovertoseeMrs。Boynton。IvoryhadbeenawayagooddealinthewoodssinceearlyNovemberchoppingtreesandhelpingtomakenewroads。Hecouldnotgolongdistances，liketheothermen，ashefeltconstrainedtocomehomeeverydayortwotolookafterhismotherandRodman，buttheworkwastoolucrativetobealtogetherrefused。WithWaitstill’shelp，hehadatlastovercomehismother’saversiontooldMrs。Mason，theirnearestneighbor；andshe，beingnowawidowwithveryslenderresources，wenttotheBoyntons’severaltimeseachweektoputtheforlornhouseholdalittleonitsfeet。

ItwasalluphillanddowntoIvory’sfarm，Waitstillreflected，andshecouldtakehersledandslidehalftheway，goingandcoming，orshecouldcutacrossthefrozenfieldsonthecrust。

Shecaughtuphershawlfromahookonthekitchendoor，and，throwingitoverherheadandshoulderstoshieldherselffromthechillblastsonthestairway，ranuptoherbedroomtomakeherselfreadyforthewalk。

Sheslippedonaquiltedpetticoatandwarmerdress，braidedherhairfreshly，whileherbreathwentoutinawhitecloudtomeetthefreezingair；snatchedherwrapsfromhercloset，andwasjustgoingdownthestairswhensherememberedthatanhourbefore，havingtobindupacutfingerforherfather，shehadsearchedPatty’sbureaudrawerforanoldhandkerchief，andhadleftthingsindisorderwhilesherantoanswertheDeacon’simpatientcallandstampuponthekitchenfloor。

"Hurryupanddon’tmakemestan’hereallwinter！"hehadshouted。"Ifyoueverkeptthingsinproperorder，youwouldn’thavetohuntalloverthehouseforapieceofragwhenyouneedit！"

Pattywasverydaintyaboutherfewpatchedanddarnedbelongings；alsoveryexactintheadjustmentofherbitsofribbon，hercollarsofcrochetedthread，heradoredcoralpendants，andherpileofneatcottonhandkerchiefs，hem—stitchedbyherownhands。Waitstill，accordingly，withanexclamationatherownunwontedcarelessness，dartedintohersister’sroomtoreplaceinperfectorderthearticlesshehaddisarrangedinherhaste。Sheknewthemall，thesepoorlittletrinkets，——humble，patheticevidencesofPatty’sfemininevanityanddesiretomakeherbrightbeautyatriflebrighter。

Suddenlyherhandandhereyefellatthesamemomentonsomethinghiddeninafarcornerunderawhite"fascinator，"oneofthosehead—coveringsoffilmywool，dottedwithbeads，wornbythegirlsoftheperiod。Shedrewtheglittering，unfamiliarobjectforward，andthenlifteditwonderinglyinherhand。Itwasastringofburnishedgoldbeads，theavoweddesireofPatty’sheart；astringofbeadswithabrilliantlittlestoneinthefastening。And，asifthatwerenotmysteryenough，therewassomethingslippedovertheclaspednecklaceandhangingfromit，asWaitstillheldituptothelight——acircletofplaingold，awedding—ring！

Waitstillstoodmotionlessinthecoldwithsuchathrongofbewilderingthoughts，misgivings，imaginings，rushingthroughherheadthattheywerelikeaflockofbirdsbeatingtheirwingsagainstherears。Theimaginingswerenotthoseofabsolutedreadorterror，forsheknewherPatty。Ifshehadseenthenecklacealoneshewouldhavebeenanxious，indeed，foritwouldhavemeantthatthegirl，urgedonbyungoverneddesirefortheornament，hadacceptedpresentfromonewhoshouldnothavegivenittohersecretly；butthewedding—ringmeantsome—thingdifferentforPatty，——somethingmore，somethingcertain，somethingunescapable，forgoodorill。Awedding—ringcouldstandfornothingbutmarriage。CouldPattybemarried？How，when，andwherecouldsogreatathinghappenwithoutherknowledge？Itseemedimpossible。Howhadsuchachildsurmountedthedifficultiesinthepath？Hadshebeenledawaybytheattractionsofsomestranger？No，therehadbeennoneinthevillage。TherewasonlyonemanwhohadtheworldlywisdomorthemeanstocarryPattyoffundertheveryeyeofherwatchfulsister；onlyonewiththerecklesscouragetodefyherfather；

andthatwasMarkWilson。HisnamedidnotbringabsoluteconfidencetoWaitstill’smind。Hewasgayandyoungandthoughtless；howhadhemanagedtodothiswildthing？——andhadhedonealldecentlyandwisely，withconsiderationforthegirl’sgoodname？ThethoughtofalltheriskslyinginthetrainofPatty’syouthandinexperiencebroughtawailofanguishfromWaitstill’slips，and，droppingthebeadsandclosingthedrawer，shestumbledblindlydownthestairwaytothekitchen，intentupononethoughtonly——tofindhersister，tolookinhereyes，feelthetouchofherhand，andassureherselfofhersafety。

Shegaveadazedlookatthetallclock，andwasbeginningtoputonhercloakwhenthedooropenedandPattyenteredthekitchenbywayoftheshed；theusualPatty，rosy，buoyant，alert，withakindofchildlikeinnocencethatcouldhardlybeassociatedwiththepossessionofwedding—rings。

"Areyougoingout，Waity？Wrapupwell，forit’sfreezingcold。

Waity，Waity，dear！What’sthematter？"shecried，comingclosertohersisterinalarm。

Waitstill’sfacehadlostitsclearcolor，andhereyeshadthelookofsomedumbanimalthathasbeenstruckandwounded。Shesankintotheflag—bottomedrockerbythewindow，andleaningbackherhead，utterednoword，butclosedhereyesandgaveonelong，shiveringsighandadrysobthatseemeddrawnfromtheverybottomofherheart。

XXVII

THECONFESSIONAL

"WAITY，Iknowwhatitis；youhavefoundoutaboutme！WhohasbeenwickedenoughtotellyoubeforeIcoulddoso——tellme，who？"

"Oh，Patty，Patty！"criedWaitstill，whocouldnolongerholdbackhertears。"Howcouldyoudeceivemeso？Howcouldyoushutmeoutofyourheartandkeepasecretlikethisfromme，whohavetriedtobemotherandsisterinonetoyoueversincethedayyouwereborn？Godhassentmemuchtobear，butnothingsobitterasthis——tohavemysistertakethegreateststepofherlifewithoutmyknowledgeorcounsel！"

"Stop，dear，stop，andletmetellyou！"

"Allistold，andnotbyyouasitshouldhavebeen。We’veneverhadanythingseparatefromeachotherinallourlives，andwhenIlookedinyourbureaudrawerforabitofsoftcotton——itwasnothingmorethanIhavedoneahundredtimes——youcanguessnowwhatIstumbledupon；awedding—ringforahandIhaveheldeversinceitwasababy’s。Mysisterhasahusband，andIamnotevensureofhisname！

"Waity，Waity，don’ttakeitsotoheart！"andPattyflungherselfonherkneesbesideWaitstill’schair。"Nottillyouheareverything！WhenItellyouall，youwilldryyoureyesandsmileandbehappyaboutme，andyouwillknowthatinthewholeworldthereisnooneelseinmyloveormylifebutyouandmy——myhusband。"

"Whoisthehusband？"askedWaitstilldryly，asshewipedhereyesandleanedherelbowonthetable。

"WhocoulditbebutMark？HasthereeverbeenanyonebutMark？"

"Ishouldhavesaidthattherewereseveral，inthesepastfewmonths。"

Waitstill’stoneshowedclearlythatshewasstillgrievedandhurtbeyondherpowertoconceal。

"IhaveneverthoughtofmarryinganyonebutMark，andnotevenofmarryinghimtillalittlewhileago，"saidPatty。"Nowdonotdrawawayfrommeandlookoutofthewindowasifwewerenotsisters，oryouwillbreakmyheart。Turnyoureyestomineandbelieveinme，Waity，whileItellyoueverything，asIhavesolongedtodoallthesenightsanddays。MarkandIhavelovedeachotherforalong，longtime。Itwasonlyplayatfirst，butwewereyoungandfoolishanddidnotunderstandwhatwasreallyhappeningbetweenus。"

"Youarebothofyouonlyafewmonthsolderthanwhenyouwere’youngandfoolish，’"objectedWaitstill。

"Yes，weare——yearsandyears！FiveweeksagoIpromisedMarkthatIwouldmarryhim；buthowwasIevertokeepmywordpublicly？Youhavenoticedhowinsultinglyfathertreatshimoflate，passinghimbywithoutawordwhenhemeetshiminthestreet？Youremember，too，thathehasnevergonetoLawyerWilsonforadvice，orputanybusinessinhishandssincespring？"

"TheWilsonsareamongfather’saversions，thatisallyoucansay；itisnousetotryandexplainthemorrebelagainstthem，"

Waitstillansweredwearily。

"Thatisallverywell，andmightbebornelikemanyanothercross；butIwantedtomarrythisparticular’aversion，"’arguedPatty。WouldyouhavehelpedmetomarryMarksecretlyifIhadconfidedinyou？"

"Neverintheworld——never！"

"Iknewit，"exclaimedPattytriumphantly。"Webothsaidso！AndwhatwasMarktodo？Hewasmorethanwillingtocomeuphereandaskformelikeaman，butheknewthathewouldbeorderedoffthepremisesasifhewereathief。ThatwouldhaveangeredMr。

andMrs。Wilson，andmademattersworse。Wetalkedandtalkeduntilwewerehoarse；wethoughtandthoughtuntilwenearlyhadbrainfeverfromthinking，butthereseemedtobenowaybuttotakethebullbythehorns。"

"Youarebothsoyoung，youcouldwellhavebidedawhile。"

"Wecouldhavebideduntilweweregray，nothingwouldhavechangedfather；andjustlatelyIcouldn’tmakeMarkbide，"

confessedPattyingenuously。"Hehasbeeninarageaboutfather’streatmentofyouandme。Heknowswehaven’ttherightfoodtoeat，nothingfittowear，andnotanhourofpeaceorfreedom。Hehasevenheardthemenatthestoresaythatourverylivesmightbeindangerifwecrossedfather’swill，orangeredhimbeyondacertainpoint。Youcan’tblameamanwholovesagirl，ifhewantstotakeherawayfromsuchawretchedlife。Hislovewouldbegoodfornothingifhedidnotlongtorescueher！"

"Iwouldneverhaveleftyoubehindtobearyourslaveryalone，whileIslippedawaytohappinessandcomfort——notforanymanalivewouldI

Ihavedoneit！"Thisspeech，sounlikeWaitstillinitsungenerousreproach，wasrepentedofassoonasitlefthertongue。"Oh，Ididnotmeanthat，mydarling！"shecried。"I

wouldhavewelcomedanychangeforyou，andthankedGodforit，ifonlyitcouldhavecomehonorablyandaboveboard。"

"But，don’tyousee，Waity，howmymarriagehelpseverything？

Thatiswhatmakesmehappiest；thatnowIshallhaveahomeanditcanbeyours。Fatherhasplentyofmoneyandcangetahousekeeper。Heisonlysixty—five，andashaleandheartyasamancanbe。Youhaveservedyourtime，andsurelyyouneednotbehisdrudgefortherestofyourlife。MarkandIthoughtyouwouldspendhalftheyearwithus。"

Waitstillwaivedthispointastooimpossiblefordiscussion。

"Whenandwherewereyoumarried，Patty？"sheasked。

"InAllentown，NewHampshire，lastMonday，thedayyouandfatherwenttoSaco。Ellenwentwithus。Youneedn’tsupposeitwasmuchfunforme！Girlsthatthinkrunningawaytobemarriedisnothingbutalark，donothavetodeceiveasisterlikeyou，norhaveafathersuchasminetoreckonwithafterwards。"

"Youthoughtofallthatbefore，didn’tyou，child？"

"Nobodythathasn’talreadyrunawaytobemarriedonceortwicecouldtellhowitwasgoingtofeel！NeverdidIpasssounhappyaday！IfMarkwasnoteverythingthatiskindandgentle，hewouldhavetippedmeoutofthesleighintoasnowbankandleftmebytheroadsidetofreeze。Imighthavebeenmurderedinsteadofonlymarried，bythewayIbehaved；butMarkandEllenunderstood。Then，theverynextday，Mark’sfathersenthimuptoBridgtononbusiness，andhehadtogotoAllentownfirsttoreturnafriend’shorse，sohecouldn’tbreakthenewstofatheratonce，asheintended。"

"DoesaNewHampshiremarriageholdgoodinMaine？"askedWaitstill，stillintentonthebarefactsatthebottomoftheromance。

"Well，ofcourse，"stammeredPatty，some—whatconfused，"Mainehasherownwayofdoingthings，andwouldn’tbelikelytofancyNewHampshire’s。Butnothingcanmakeitwickedoranythingbutaccordingtolaw。Besides，Markconsideredallthedifficulties。

Heiswonderfullyclever，andhehasaclerkshipinaPortsmouthlawofficewaitingforhim；andthat’swherewearegoingtolive，inNewHampshire，whereweweremarried，andmydarlingsisterwillcomesoonandstaymonthsandmonthswithus。"

"WhenisMarkcomingbacktoarrangeallthis？"

"Lateto—nightorearlyto—morrowmorning。

283

"Wheredidyougoafteryouweremarried？"

"WheredidIgo？"echoedPatty，inachildishburstoftears。

"WherecouldIgo？Ittookalldaytobemarried——alldaylong，workinganddrivinghardfromsunrisetoseveno’clockintheevening。Thenwhenwereachedthebridge，Markdroppedme，andI

walkeduphomeinthedark，andwenttobedwithoutanysupper，forfearthatyouandfatherwouldcomebackandcatchmeatitandaskwhyIwassolate。"

"Mypoor，foolishdear！"sighedWaitstill。

Patty’stearsflowedfasteratthefirstsoundofsympathyinWaitstill’svoice，forself—pityisveryenfeebling。Shefairlysobbedasshecontinued：——

"Somyonlywedding—journeywasthefreezingdrivebackfromAllentown，withEllencryingallthewayandwishingthatshehadn’tgonewithus。MarkandIbothsaywe’llneverbemarriedagainsolongaswelive！"

"Wherehaveyouseenyourhusbandfromthatdaytothis？"

"Ihaven’tlaideyesonhim！"saidPatty，withafreshburstofwoe。"Ihaveacertificate—thing，andawedding—ringandabeautifulfrockandhatthatMarkboughtinBoston，butnorealhusband。I’mnomoremarriedthaneverIwas！Don’tyourememberIsaidthatMarkwassentawayonTuesdaymorning？AndthisisThursday。I’vehadthreelettersfromhim；butIdon’tknow，tillweseehowfathertakesit，whenwecantelltheWilsonsandstartforPortsmouth。Weshan’treallycallourselvesmarriedtillwegettoPortsmouth；wepromisedeachotherthatfromthefirst。Itisn’tmuchlikebeingabride，nevertoseeyourbridegroom；tohaveafatherwhowillflyintoapassionwhenhehearsthatyouaremarried；nottoknowwhetheryournewfamilywilllikeordespiseyou；andtohaveyouronlysisterangeredwithyouforthefirsttimeinherlife！"

Waitstill’sheartmelted，andsheliftedPatty’stear—stainedfacetohersandkissedit。"Well，dear，Iwouldnothavehadyoudothisfortheworld，butitisdone，andMarkseemstohavebeenaswiseasamancanbewhenhedoesanunwisething。Youaremarried，andyouloveeachother。That’sthecomfortingthingtome。"

"Wedo，"sobbedPatty。"Notwopeopleeverlovedeachotherbetterthanwe；butit’sbeenallspoiledforfearoffather。"

"ImustsayIdreadtohavehimhearthenews"；andWaitstillknittedherbrowsanxiously。"Ihopeitmaybesoon，andIthinkIoughttobeherewhenheistold。Markwillneverunder—standorbearwithhim，andtheremaybetroublethatIcouldavert。"

"I’llbehere，too，andI’mnotafraid！AndPattyraisedherheaddefiantly。"Fathercanunmarryus，that’swhyweactedinthismiserable，secret，underhandedway。Somehow，thoughIhaven’tseenMarksincewewenttoAllentown，IambraverthanIwaslastweek，fornowI’vegotsomebodytotakemypart。I’veagoodmindtogoupstairsandputonmygoldbeadsandmywedding—ring，justtogetusedtothemandtofeelalittlemoremarried。——No：I

can’t，afterall，forthereisfatherdrivingupthehillnow，andhemaycomeintothehouse。Whatbringshimhomeatthishour？"