第16章

"AllsummerlongIhavebeentryingtoremembersomething；

somethinguntruethatyouhavebeenbelieving，somefalsehoodforwhichIwasresponsible。Ihavepursuedandpursuedit，butithasalwaysescapedme。Onceitwasclearasdaylight，forRodmanreadmefromtheBibleaplainanswertoallthequestionsthattorturedme。"

"Thatmusthavebeenthenightthatshefainted，"thoughtIvory。

"WhenIawokenextmorningfrommylongsleep，theoldpuzzlehadcomeback，athousandtimesworsethanbefore，forthenIknewthatIhadheldtheclueinmyownhandandhadlostit。Now，praiseGod！Iknowthetruth，andyou，theonlyonetowhomIcantellit，arecloseathand。"

Ivorylookedathismotherandsawthattheveilthathadseparatedthemmentallyseemedtofivevanishedinthenightthathadpassed。Oftenandoftenithadblownaway，asitwere，forthefractionofamomentandthenblownbackagain。Nowhereyesmethiswithanaltogethernewclearnessthatstartledhim，whileherhealthcamewitheaseandsheseemedstrongerthanformanydays。

"YourememberthewinterIwashereatthefarmalone，whenyouwereattheAcademy？"

"Yes；itwasthenthatIcamehomeandfoundyousoterriblyill。

Doyouthinkweneedgobacktothatoldtimenow，motherdear？"

"Yes，Imust，Imust！OnemorningIreceivedastrangeletter，bearingnosignature，inwhichthewritersaidthatifIwishedtoseemyhusbandIhadonlytogotoacertainaddressinBrentville，NewHampshire。TheletterwentontosaythatMr。

AaronBoyntonwasillandlongedfornothingsomuchastospeakwithme；buttherewerereasonswhyhedidnotwishtoreturntoEdgewood，——wouldIcometohimwithoutdelay。"

Ivorynowsatstraightinhischairandlistenedkeenly，feelingthatthiswastobenovague，uncertain，andmisleadingmemory，butsomethingtrueandtangible。

"Theletterexcitedmegreatlyafteryourfather’slongabsenceandsilence。Iknewitcouldmeannothingbutsorrow，butalthoughIwashalfillatthetime，myplaindutywastogo，soIthought，andgowithoutmakinganyexplanationinthevillage。"

AllthiswasnewtoIvoryandhehunguponhismother’swords，dreadingyethopingforthelightthattheymightsheduponthepast。

"IarrivedatBrentvillequiteexhaustedwiththejourneyandweigheddownbyanxietyanddread。Ifoundthehousementionedintheletteratseveno’clockintheevening，andknockedatthedoor。Acommon，hard—featuredwomanansweredtheknockand，seemingtoexpectme，usheredmein。Idonotremembertheroom；

Irememberonlyachildleaningpatientlyagainstthewindow—silllookingoutintothedark，andthattheplacewasbareandcheerless。

"IcametocalluponMr。AaronBoynton，’Isaid，withmyheartsinkinglowerandlowerasIspoke。ThewomanopenedadoorintothenextroomandwhenIwalkedin，insteadofseeingyourfather，I

confrontedahaggard，death—strickenyoungwomansittingupinbed，hergreateyesbrightwithpain，herlipsaswhiteasherhollowcheeks，andherlong，blackhairstreamingoverthepillow。TheverysightofherstruckaknelltothelittlehopeI

hadofsoothingyourfather’ssickbedandforgivinghimifhehaddonemeanywrong。

"’Well，youcame，asIthoughtyouwould，’saidthegirl，lookingmeoverfromheadtofootinawaythatsomehowmademeburnwithshame。’NowsitdowninthatchairandhearwhatI’vegottosaywhileI’vegotthestrengthtosayit。Ihaven’tthetimenorthedesiretoputaglossonit。AaronBoyntonisn’there，asyouplainlysee，butthat’snotmyfault，forhebelongshereasmuchasanywhere，thoughhewouldn’thavemuchinterestinadyingwoman。Ifyouhavesufferedonaccountofhim，sohaveIandyouhaven’thadthispainboringintoyouandeatingyourlifeawayformonths，asIhave。’

"Ipitiedher，sheseemedsodistraught，butIwasinterrorofherallthesame，andurgedhertotellherstorycalmlyandI

woulddomybesttohearitinthesameway。

"’Calm，’sheexclaimed，’withthisagonytearingmetopieces！

Well，tomakebeginningandendinone，AaronBoyntonwasmyhusbandforthreeyears。’

"Icaughtholdofthechairtokeepmyselffromfallingandcried：’Idonotbelieveit！’’Believeitornot，sheansweredscornfully，’itmakesnodifferencetome，butIcangiveyoutwentyproofsinasmanyseconds。WemetataCochranemeetingandhechosemefromalltheothersashistruewife。Fortwoyearswetravelledtogether，butlongbeforetheycametoanendtherewasnohappinessforeitherofus。Hehadaconscience——notmuchofaone，butjustenoughtokeephimmiserable。AtlastI

felthewasnotbelievingthedoctrineshepreachedandIcaughthimtryingtogetnewsofyouandyourboy，justbecauseyouwereoutofreach，andneglectingmyboyandme，whohadgivenupeverythingtowanderwithhimandliveonwhateverthebrethrenandsisterschosetogiveus。’

"’Sotherewasachild，aboy，’Igasped。’Did——didhelive？’

’He’sinthenextroom，’sheanswered，’andit’shimIbroughtyouherefor。AaronBoyntonhasservedusboththesame。HeleftyouformeandmeforHeavenknowswho。IfIcouldliveI

wouldn’taskanyfavors，ofyouleastofall，butIhaven’tapennyintheworld，thoughIshan’tneedoneverylong。Myfriendthat’snursingmehasn’tarooftoherheadandshewouldn’tshareitwiththeboyifshehad——she’sabigotedOrthodox。’

"’Butwhatdoyouexpectmetodo？’Iaskedangrily，forshewasstabbingmewitheveryword。

"’Theboyisyourhusband’schildandhealwaysrepresentedyouasasaintuponearth。Iexpectyoutotakehimhomeandprovideforhim。Hedoesn’tmeanverymuchtome——justenoughsothatI

don’trelishhisgoingtothepoorhouse，that’sall。’

"’He’llgotosomethingverylikethatifhecomestomine，’I

said。

"’Don’tworrymewithtalk，forIcan’tstandit，’shewailed，clutchingathernightgownandflingingbackherhair。’EitheryoutakethechildorIsendsomebodytoEdgewoodwithhim，somebodytotellthewholestory。SomeoftheCochranitescansupporthimifyouwon’t；or，attheworst，AaronBoynton’stowncantakecareofhisson。Thedoctorhasgivenmetwodaystolive。Ifit’saminutelongerI’vewarnedhimandIwarnyou，thatI’llenditmyself；andifyoudon’ttaketheboyI’lldothesameforhim。He’sagoodsightbetteroffdeadthanknockingabouttheworldalone；he’sinnocentandthere’snosenseinhisbeingpunishedforthesinsofotherfolks。’"

"Iseeitall！WhydidIneverthinkofitbefore；mypoor，poorRod！"saidIvory，clenchinghishandsandburyinghisheadinthem。

"Don’tgrieve，Ivory；ithasallturnedoutsomuchbetterthanwecouldhavehoped；justlistentotheend。Shewasfrightfultohearandtolookat，thegirlwas，thoughallthetimeIcouldfeelthatshemusthavehadagipsybeautyandvigorthatansweredtosomethinginyourfather。

"’Goalongoutnow，’shecriedsuddenly。’Ican’tstandanybodynear。ThedoctornevergivesmehalfenoughmedicineandforthehourbeforehecomesIfairlydieforlackofit——thoughlittlehecares！Goupstairsandhaveyoursleepandto—morrowyoucanmakeupyourmind。’

"’Youdon’tleavememuchfreedomtodothat，’Itriedtoanswer；

butsheinterruptedme，rockingherbodytoandfro。’Neitherofuswi11everseeAaronBoyntonagain；younomorethanI。He’sintheWest，andamanwithtwofamiliesandnomeansofprovidingforthemdoesn’tcomebackwherehe’sknown。——Comeandtakeheraway，Eliza！Takeheraway，quick！’shecalled。

"Istumbledoutoftheroomandthewomanwavedmeupstairs。’Youmustn’tmindHetty，’sheapologized；’sheneverhadagooddispositionatthebest，butshe’sfranticwiththepainnow，andgoodreason，too。It’saboutoverandI’11bethankfulwhenitis。You’dbetterswallowtheshameandtakethechild；Ican’tandwon’thavehimandit’11beeasyenoughforyoutosayhebelongstosomeofyourownfolks。’

"BythistimeIwasmentallybewildered。Whentheironfirstenteredmysoul，whenIfirstheardthetruthaboutyourfather，atthatmomentmymindgaveway——Iknowitnow。"

"Poor，poormother！Mypoor，gentlelittlemother！"murmuredIvorybrokenly，asheaskedherhand。

"Don’tcry，myson；itisallpast；thesorrowandthebitternessandthestruggle。Iwilljustfinishthestoryandthenwe’11

closethebookforever。Thewomangavemesomebreadandtea，andIflungmyselfonthebedwithoutundressing。Idon’tknowhowlongafterwarditwas，butthedooropenedandalittleboystolein；asad，strange，dark—eyedlittleboywhosaid：’CanIsleepuphere？Mother’sscreamingandI’mafraid。’Heclimbedtothecouch。Icoveredhimwithablanket，andIsoonheardhisdeepbreathing。Butlaterinthenight，whenImusthavefallenasleepmyself，Isuddenlyawokeandfelthimlyingbesideme。HehaddraggedtheblanketalongandcreptuponthebedtogetclosetomysideforthewarmthIcouldgive，orthecomfortofmynearness。Thetouchofhimalmostbrokemyheart；Icouldnotpushthelittlecreatureawaywhenhewaslyingtheresonearandwarmandconfiding——he，allunconsciousoftheagonyhismereexistencewastome。ImusthavesleptagainandwhenthedaybrokeIwasalone。IthoughtthepresenceofthechildinthenightwasadreamandIcouldnotrememberwhereIwas，norwhyI

wasthere。"

"Mother，dearmother，don’ttellmeanymoreto—night。Ifearforyourstrength，"urgedIvory，hiseyesfulloftearsattheremembranceofhersufferings。

"Thereisonlyalittlemoreandtheweightwillbeoffmyheartandonyours，mypoorson。WouldthatIneednottellyou！ThehousewasstillandIthoughtatfirstthatnoonewasawake，butwhenIopenedthesitting—roomdoorthechildrantowardsmeandtookmyhandasthewomancameinfromthesick—room。’Gointothekitchen，Rodman，’shesaid，’andlaceupyourboots；you’regoingrightoutwiththislady。Hettydiedinthenight，’shecontinuedimpassively。’Thedoctorwashereaboutteno’clockandI’veneverseenhersobad。Hegaveherabigdoseofsleepingpowderandputanotherinthetabledrawerformetomixforhertowardsmorning。Shewashelplesstomove，wethought，butallthesameshemusthavegotoutofbedwhenmybackwasturnedandtakenthepowderdryonhertongue，foritwasgonewhenIlookedforit。Itdidn’thastenthingsmuchandIdon’tblameher。Ifevertherewasawild，recklesscreatureitwasHettyRodman，butI，whoamjusttheopposite，wouldhavedonethesameifI’dbeenher。’

"Shehurriedlygavemeacupofcoffee，and，puttingacoatandacapontheboy，literallypushedmeoutofthehouse。’I’vegottoreportthingstothedoctor，’shesaid，’andyou’rebetteroutoftheway。Godownthatsidestreettothestationandmindyousaytheboybelongedtoyoursisterwhodiedandlefthimtoyou。

You’reaCochranite，ain’tyou？SowasHetty，andthey’reallsisters，soyou’llbetellingnolies。Good—bye，Rodman，beagoodboyanddon’tbeanytroubletothelady。’

"HowIfoundthestationIdonotknow，norhowImadethejourney，norwhereItookthestage—coach。Thesnowbegantofallandbynoontherewasadriftingstorm。IcouldnotrememberwhereIwasgoing，norwhotheboywas，forjustasthesnowwaswhirlingoutside，soitwaswhirlinginmybrain。"

"Mother，Icanhardlybeartohearanymore；itistooterrible！"

criedIvory，risingfromhischairandpacingthefloor。

"IcanrecallnothingofanyaccounttillIawokeinmyownbedweeksafterwards。Thestrangelittleboywasthere，butMrs。DayandDr。PerrytoldmewhatImusthavetoldthem——thathewasthechildofmydeadsister。ThosewerethelastwordsutteredbythewomaninBrentville；Icarriedthemstraightthroughmyillnessandbroughtthemoutontheothersidemorefirmlyintrenchedthanever。"

"Ifonlythetruthhadcomebacktoyousooner！"sighedIvory，comingbacktoherbedside。"Icouldhavehelpedyoutobearitalltheseyears。Sorrowissomuchlighterwhenyoucanshareitwithsomeoneelse。AndthegirlwhodiedwascalledHettyRodman，then，andshesimplygavethechildherlastname？"

"Yes，poorsufferingcreature。Ifeelnoangeragainsthernow；

ithasburneditselfallaway。NordoIfeelanybitternessagainstyourfather。Iforgotallthismiserablestoryforsolong，lovingandwatchingforhimallthetime，thatitisasifitdidnotbelongtomyownlife，buthadtodowithsomeunhappystranger。Canyouforgive，too，Ivory？"

"Icantry，"heanswered。"GodknowsIoughttobeabletoifyoucan！"

"AndwillitturnyouawayfromRod？"

"No，itdrawsmenearertohimthanever。Heshallneverknowthetruth——whyshouldhe？Justashecreptclosetoyouthatnight，allunconsciousofthereasonyouhadforshrinkingfromhim，sohehascreptclosetomeintheseyearsoftrial，whenyourmindhasbeenwandering。"

"Lifeissostrange。Tothinkthatthischild，ofallothers，shouldhavebeenacomforttoyou。TheLord’shandisinit！"

whisperedMrs。Boyntonfeebly。

"Hisboyishbeliefinme，hiscompanionship，havekeptthebreathofhopealiveinme——that’sallIcansay。"

"TheBiblestoryishappeningoveragaininourlives，then。

Don’tyourememberthatAaron’srodbuddedandblossomedandborefruit，andthatthemiraclekepttherebelsfrommurmuring？"

"Thisrebelneverwillmurmuragain，mother，andIvoryrosetoleavetheroom。"Nowthatyouhaveshedyourburdenyouwillgrowstrongerandlifewillbealljoy，forWaitstillwillcometoussoonandwecanshakeoffthesemiseriesandbeahappyfamilyoncemore。"

"Itisshewhohashelpedmemosttofindthethread；pouringsympathyandstrengthintome，nursingme，lovingme，becauseshelovedmywonderfulson。Oh！howblestamongwomenIamtohavelivedlongenoughtoseeyouhappy！"

AndasIvorykissedhismotherandblewoutthecandle，shewhisperedtoherself："Evenso，LordJesus，comequickly！"

XXXIV

THEDEACON’SWATERLOO

MRS。MASON’SwelcometoWaitstillwasunexpectedlyhearty——muchheartierthanitwouldhavebeenSixmonthsbefore，whensheregardedMrs。Boyntonaslittlelessthanaharmlesslunatic，ofnouseasaneighbor；andwhensheknewnothingmoreofIvorythanshecouldgatherbyhisoccasionaldriveorwalkpastherdoorwithacivilgreeting。Rodmanhadbeenuntillatelytheonlymemberofthefamilyforwhomshehadafriendlyfeeling；butallthathadchangedinthelastfewweeks，whenshehadbeenallowedtotakeahandintheBoyntons’affairs。Astothisnewestdevelopmentinthelifeoftheirhousehold，shehadoncebeenyoungherself，andtheveriestblockofstonewouldhavebecomehumanwhenthetwoloversdroveuptothedoorandtoldtheirexcitingstory。

Ivorymadehimselfquicklyathome，andhelpedtheoldladytogetaroomreadyforWaitstillbeforehedrovebackforalookathismotherandthenontocarryouthisimpetuousandromanticschemeofroutingoutthetownclerkandannouncinghisintendedmarriage。

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Waitstillsleptliketheshepherdboyin"ThePilgrim’sProgress，"withthe"herbcalledHeart’sEase"inherbosom。SheopenedhereyesnextmorningfromthedepthsofMrs。Mason’sbestfeatherbed，andlookedwonderinglyabouttheroom，withallitsunaccustomedsurroundings。Sheheardtherattleoffire—ironsandtheflatterofdishesbelow；thefirsttimeinallherwoman’slifethatpreparationsforbreakfasthadevergreetedherearswhenshehadnotbeenanactiveparticipatorinthem。

Shelayquitestillforaquarterofanhour，tiredinbodyandmind，butincrediblyhappyinspirit，marvellingatthechangeswroughtinherduringthedaypreceding，themosteventfuloneinherhistory。Onlyyesterdayherlovehadbeenabud，socloselyfoldedthatshescarcelyrecognizeditsbeautyorcolororfragrance；onlyyesterday，andnowsheheldinherhandaperfectflower。Whenandhowhaditgrown，andbywhatmagicprocess？

TheimageofIvoryhadbeenallthroughthenightintheforegroundofherdreamsandinhermomentsofwakefulness，bothmadeblissfulbytheheavenofanticipationthatdawneduponher。

Wasevermansowise，sotenderandgentle，sostrong，socomprehending？Whatmatteredtheabsenceofworldlygoods，thepresenceofcareandanxiety，whennwomanhadasteadyhandtohold，asteadfasthearttotrust，amanwhowouldloveherandstandbyher，whate’erbefell？

ThenthefaceofIvory’smotherwouldswimintothementalpicture；thepaleface，aswhiteasthepillowitlayupon；thefacewithitsaureoleofashenhair，andthewistfulblueeyesthatbeggedofGodandherchildrensomepeacebeforetheyclosedonlife。

Thevisionofhersisterwasajoyfulone，andherheartwasatpeaceabouther，thepluckylittleprincesswhohadblazedthewayoutoftheogre’scastle。

ShesawPattyclearlyasafuturefinelady，invelvetsandsatinsandfurs，bewitchingevery—bodybyhergayspirits，herpiquantvivacity，andthelovingheartthatlayunderneathallthenonsenseandgaveitwarmthandcolor。

TheremembranceofherfatheraloneonthehilltopdidindeedtroubleWaitstill。Self—reproach，inthetruesenseoftheword，shedidnot，couldnot，feel。Neversincethedayshewasbornhadshebeenfathered，anddaughterlylovewasabsent；butshesufferedwhenshethoughtofthefierce，self—willedoldman，cuttinghimselfofffromallpossiblefriendships，whilehisvigorwasbeingsappeddailyandhourlybyhisterriblegreedofmoney。

TruehousewifethatWaitstillwas，hermindrevertedtoeveryseparatecrockandcanisterinhercupboards，everyarticleofherbakingorcookingthatreposedontheswing—shehinthecellar，thinkinghowlongherfathercouldbecomfortablewithoutherministrations，andso，howlonghewoulddelaybeforeengagingtheuinevitablehousekeeper。Sherevolvedthenumberofpossiblepersonstowhomthepositionwouldbeoffered，andwishedthatMrs。Mason，whosoneededhelp，mightbethechosenone：butthefactofherhavingbeenfriendlytotheBoyntonswouldstrikeheratoncefromthelist。

WhenshewasthankfullyeatingherbreakfastwithMrs。Masonalittlelater，andwaitingforIvorytocallforthembothandtakethemtotheBoyntonfarm，shelittleknewwhatwasgoingonatheroldhomeintheseveryhours，whentotellthetruthshewouldhavelikedtoslipin，haditbeenpossible，washthemorningdishes，skimthecream，dotheweek’schurning，makeherfather’sbed，andslipoutagainintothedearshelteroflovethatawaitedher。

TheDeaconhadpassedagoodpartofthenightinschemingandcontriving，andwhenhedrankhisself—madecupofmuddycoffeeatseveno’clocknextmorninghehadformedseveralplansthatweretobeimmediatelyfrustrated，hadheknownit，bytheexasperatingandsuspiciousnatureoftheladiesinvolvedinthem。

Ateighthehadleftthehouse，startedBillMorrillatthestore，andwasontheroadinsearchofvengeanceandahousekeeper。OldMrs。AtkinsofDeerwandersniffedatthewagesoffered。MissPeters，ofUnionFalls，anagedspinsterwithweaklungs，hadtheimpertinencetotellhimthatshefearedshecouldn’tstandthecoldinhishouse；shehadheardhewasveryparticularabouttheamountofwoodthatwasburned。Afour—miledrivebroughthimtothevillagepoeticallynamedtheBrickKiln，whereheofferedtoMrs。PeterUphamanadvanceoftwenty—fivecentsaweekoverandabovethesalarywithwhichhehadsoughttotemptMrs。Atkins。Farfrombeingimpressed，Mrs。Uphill，beingofahightemperandcandidturnofmind，toldhimshe’dprefertostarveathome。Therewasnotanotherfreewomanwithineightmiles，andtheDeaconwaschafingundertemortificationofbeingcontinuallyobligedtostatethereasonforhisneedingahousekeeper。Theonlyhope，itseemed，layingoingtoSacoandhiringastranger，aplannotatalltohisliking，asitwassuretoinvolvehiminextraexpense。

Mutteringthreatsagainsttheuniverseingeneral，hedrovehomebywayofMilliken’sMills，thinkingoftheunfedhens，theunmilkedcow，theunwasheddishes，theunchurnedcreamandaboveallofhisunchasteneddaughters；hisrageincreasingwitheverystepuntilitwasnearlyatthewhiteheatofthenightbefore。

Alongstretchofhillbroughtthetiredoldmaretoaslowwalk，andenabledtheDeacontoseetheWidowTillmanclippingthegeraniumsthatstoodintincansontheshelfofherkitchenwindow。

Now，FoxwellBaxterhadneverbeenavillageLotharioatanyage，norfrequentedthesocietyofsuch。Oflateyears，indeed，hehadfrequentednosocietyofanykind，sothathehadmissed，forinstance，AbelDay’sdescriptionoftheWidowTillmanasa"reg’larsyreen，"thoughhevaguelyrememberedthatsomeoftheBaptistsistershadquestionedtheauthenticityofherconversionbytheiryoungandattractiveminister。Shemadeapleasantpictureatthewindow；shewasafreewoman（alittletoofree，theneighborswouldhavesaid；buttheDeacondidn’tknowthat）；

shewasacomparativenewcomertothevillage，andhermindhadnotbeenpoisonedwithfemininegossip——inaword，shewasadistinctlyhopefulsubject，and，actingonablindandsuddenimpulse，heturnedintotheyard，’dungthereinsoverthemare’sneck，andknockedatthebackdoor。

"Hercharacter’snoworsethanminebynowifAuntAbbyCole’sontheroad，"hethoughtgrimly，"an’iftheWilsonsseemysleighinsideofwidder’sfence，somuchthebetter；it’llgive’emajog。——GoodmorningMis’Tillman，"hesaidtothesmilinglady。"I’llcometothep’intatonce。MyyoungestdaughterhasmarriedMarkWilsonagainstmywill，an’goneawayfromtown，an’

theolderone’schosenahusbandstilllesstomylikin’。Doyouwanttocomeandhousekeepforme？"

"Isurmisedsomethingwasgoingon，"re—turnedMrs。Tillman。"I

sawPattyandMarkdriveawayearlythismorning，withMr。andMrs。Wilsonwrappingthegirlupandputtingahotsoapstoneinthesleigh，andconsid’ablekissingandhuggingthrownin。"

ThisknowledgeaddedfueltotheflamethatwasburningfiercelyintheDeacon’sbreast。

"Well，howaboutthehousekeepingheasked，tryingnottoshowhiseagerness，andnotrecognizinghimselfatallintheenterpriseinwhichhefoundhimselfindulging。

"I’mverycomfortablehere，"theladyrespondedartfully，"andI

don’tknow’sIcaretomakeanychange，thankyou。Ididn’tlikethevillagemuchatfirst，afterlivinginlargerplaces，butnowI’macquainted，itkindofgainsonme。

Herreplywascarefullyframed，forhermindworkedwithgreatrapidity，andshewasmistressofthesituationalmostassoonasshesawtheDeaconalightingfromhissleigh。Hewasnotthesortofmantobeacasualcaller，andhismannerbespokeanurgenterrand。Shehadapensionofsixdollarsamonth，butoverandabovethatsumherlivingwasprecarious。Shemadecoats，andshehadneverknownwant，forshewasamasterhandatdealingwiththeoppositesex。DeaconBaxter，accordingtocommonreport，hadtenorfifteenthousanddollarsstowedawayinthebanks，sothesituationwouldbeassimpleaspossibleunderordinarycircumstances；itwasaseasytoturnoutoneman’spocketsasall—other’swhenhewasanormalhumanbeing；butDeaconBaxterwasadifferentproposition。

"Iwonderhowlonghe’slikelytolive，"shethought，glancingathimcovertly，outofthetailofhereye。"Hiseviltempermusthavedrivenmorethanonenailinhiscoffin。Iwonder，iflrefusetohousekeep，whetherI’11get——abetteroffer。IwonderifIcouldmanagehimifIgothim！I’dratherliketositintheBaxterpewattheOrthodoxmeeting—houseafterthewaysomeoftheBaptistsistershavesnubbedmesinceIcomehere。"

Notavestigeoftheseincendiarythoughtsshowedinhercomelycountenance，andhersoulmighthavebeenaswhiteasthehigh—bibbedapronthatcoveredit，tojudgebyhergenialsmile。

"I’dmakethewagesfair，"urgedtheDeacon，lookingroundthecleankitchen，withthebreak—fast—tablesittingnearthesunnywindowandtheodorofcornedbeefandcabbageissuingtemptinglyfromaboilingpotonthefire。"Ihopesheain’tagreatmeat—eater，"hethought，"butit’stoosoontocrossthatbridgeyetawhile。"

"I’venodoubtofit，"saidthewidow，wonderingifhervoicerangtrue；"butI’vegotapension，andwhyshouldIleavethiscosylittlehome？WouldIbettermyselfany，that’sthequestion？

I’mkindoflonesomehere，that’stheonlyreasonI’dconsideramove。"

"Noneedo’bein’lonesomedowntotheFalls，"saidtheDeacon。

"AndI’minan’outallday，betweenthebarnan’thestore。"

This，indeed，wasnotapleasantprospect，butJaneTillmanhadfacedworseonesinhertime。