XIII。
　　Jeffcameintotheuglyoldfamilyparlor，wherehismothersatmendingbythekerosene—lampwhichshehadkeptthroughallthehouseholdchanges，andpushedenoughofherworkasidefromthecornerofthetabletoresthisarmuponit。
　　"Mother，Iwantyoutolistentome，andtowaittillIgetdone。Willyou？"
　　Shelookedupathimoverherspectaclesfromthestockingshewasdarning；thechinaegggleamedthroughthefrayedplace。"Whatnotionhaveyougotinyourhead，now？"
　　"It’saboutJackson。Heisn’twell。He’sgottoleaveoffworkandgoaway。"
　　Themother’shanddroppedattheendoftheyarnshehaddrawnthroughthestockingheel，andshestaredatJeff。Thensheresumedherworkwiththedecisionexpressedinhertone。"Yourfatherlivedtobesixtyyearsold，andJacksona’n’tforty！Thedoctorsaidtherewa’n’tanyreasonwhyheshouldn’tliveaslongashisfatherdid。"
　　"I’mnotsayinghewon’tlivetoahundred。I’msayingheoughtn’ttostayanotherwinterhere，"Jeffsaid，decisively。
　　Mrs。Durginwassilentforatime，andthenshesaid。"Jeff，isthatyournotionaboutJackson，orwhoseisit？"
　　"It’smine，now。"
　　Mrs，Durginwaitedamoment。Thenshebegan，withafeelingquiteatvariancewithherwords：
　　"Well，I’llthankCynthyWhit’elltomindherownbusiness！Ofcourse，"
　　sheadded，andinwhatfollowedherfeelingworkedtothesurfaceinherwords，"Iknow’tshethinkstheworldofJackson，andhedoesofher；
　　andIpresumeshemeanswell。Iguessshe’dbemoreapttonotice，iftherewasanychange，thanwhatIshould。Whatdidshesay？"
　　Jefftold，asnearlyashecouldremember，andhetoldwhatCynthiaandhehadafterwardjointlyworkedoutastothebestthingforJacksontodo。Mrs。Durginlistenedfrowningly，butnotdisapprovingly，asitseemed；thoughattheendsheasked："AndwhatamIgoingtodo，withJacksongone？"
　　Jefflaughed，withhisheaddown。"Well，IguessyouandCynthycouldrunit，withFrankandMr。Whitwell。"
　　"Mr。Whit’ell！"saidMrs。Durgin，concentratinginheraccentofhisnamethecontemptshecouldnotjustlypouroutontheothers。
　　"Oh，"Jeffwenton，"IdidthinkthatIcouldtakeholdwithyou，ifyoucouldbringyourselftoletmeoffthislastyearatHarvard。"
　　"Jeff！"saidhismother，reproachfully。"Youknowyoudon’tmeanthatyou’dgiveupyourlastyearincollege？"
　　"Idomeanit，butIdon’texpectyoutodoit；andIdon’taskit。I
　　suggestedittoCynthy，whenwegottotalkingitover，andshesawitwouldn’tdo。"
　　"Well，sheshowedsomesensethattime，"Mrs。Durginsaid。
　　"Idon’tknowwhenCynthyhasn’tshownsense；exceptonce，andthenI
　　guessitwasmyfault。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Why，thisafternoonIaskedhertomarrymesometime，andshesaidshewould。"Helookedathismotherandlaughed，andthenhedidnotlaugh。
　　Hehadexpectedhertobepleased；hehadthoughttopavethewaywiththisconfessionforthedeclarationofhisintentionnottostudylaw，andtomakehisengagementtoCynthiaservehiminreconcilinghismothertotheotherfact。Butamenacingsuspensefollowedhiswords。
　　Hismotherbrokeoutatlast："YouaskedCynthyWhit’elltomarryyou！
　　Andshesaidshewould！Well，Icantellhershewon’t，then！"
　　"AndIcantellyoushewill！"Jeffstormedback。Herosetohisfeetandstoodoverhismother。
　　Shebegansteadily，asifhehadnotspoken。"Ifthatdesignin’——"
　　"Lookout，mother！Don’tyousayanythingagainstCynthia！She’sbeenthebestgirltoyouintheworld，andyouknowit。She’sbeenastruetoyouasJacksonhashimself。Shehasn’tgotaselfishboneinherbody，andshe’ssohonestshecouldn’tdesignanythingagainstyouoranyone，unlessshetoldyoufirst。Nowyoutakethatback！Takeitback！
　　She’snomoredesigningthan——thanyouare！"
　　Mrs。Durginwasnotmovedbyhisstorming，butshewasinwardlyconvincedoferror。"Idotakeitback。Cynthyisallright。She’sallyousayandmore。It’syourfault，then，andyou’vegotyourselftothank，forwhoseverfaultitis，she’llpack——"
　　"IfCynthypacks，Ipack！"saidJeff。"Understandthat。ThemomentsheleavesthishouseIleaveit，too，andI’llmarryheranyway。Frank’dleaveand——and——Pshaw！Whatdoyoucareforthat？ButIdon’tknowwhatyoumean！IalwaysthoughtyoulikedCynthyandrespectedher。Ididn’tbelieveIcouldtellyouathingthatwouldpleaseyoubetterthanthatshehadsaidshewouldhaveme。Butifitdon’t，allright。"
　　Mrs。Durginheldherpeaceinbewilderment；shestaredathersonwithdazedeyes，underthespectaclesliftedaboveherforehead。Shefeltachangeofmoodinhisunchangedtoneofdefiance，andshemethimhalf—
　　way。"ItellyouItakebackwhatIcalledCynthia，andItoldyouso。
　　But——butIdidn’teverexpectyoutomarryher。"
　　"Whydidn’tyou？Thereisn’toneofthesummerfolkstocomparewithher。She’sgotmoresensethanallof’em。I’veknownhereversinceI
　　canremember。Whydidn’tyouexpectit？"
　　"Ididn’texpectit。"
　　"Oh，Iknow！YouthoughtI’dseesomebodyinBoston——someswellgirl。
　　Well，theywouldn’tanyofthemlookatme，andiftheywould，theywouldn’tlookatyou。"
　　"Ishouldn’tcarewhethertheylookedatmeornot。"
　　"Itellyoutheywouldn’tlookatme。Youdon’tunderstandaboutthesethings，andIdo。Theymarrytheirownkind，andI’mnottheirkind，andIshouldn’tbeifIwasDanielWebsterhimself。DanielWebster！
　　Whoremembershim，orcaresforhim，oreverdid？Youdon’tbelieveit？
　　YouthinkthatbecauseI’vebeenatHarvard——Oh，can’tImakeyouseeit？
　　I’mwhattheycallajayinHarvard，andHarvarddon’tcountifyou’reajay。"
　　Hismotherlookedathimwithoutspeaking。Shewouldnotconfesstheambitionhetaxedherwith，andperhapsshehadnothingsodefiniteinhermind。Perhapsitwasonlyherprideinhim，andherfaithinasplendidfutureforhim，thatmadeheraversetohismarriageinthelotshehadalwaysknown，andonalittlelowerlevelinitthatherown。
　　Shesaidatlast：
　　"Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbybeingajay。ButIguesswebetternotsayanythingmoreaboutthisto—night。"
　　"Allright，"Jeffreturned。Thereneverwereanyformalgood—nightsbetweentheDurgins，andhewentawaynowwithoutfurtherwords。
　　Hismotherremainedsittingwherehelefther。Twoorthreetimesshedrewheremptydarning—needlethroughtheheelofthestockingshewasmending。
　　ShewasstillsittingtherewhenJacksonpassedonhiswaytobed，afterleavingtheofficeinchargeofthenightporter。Hefaltered，ashewentby，andashestoodonthethresholdshetoldhimwhatJeffhadtoldher。
　　"That’sgood，"hesaid，lifelessly。"GoodforJeff，"headded，thoughtfully，conscientiously。
　　"Whya’n’titgoodforher，too？"demandedJeff’smother，inquickresentmentoftheslightputuponhim。
　　"Ididn’tsayitwa’n’t，"saidJackson。"Butit’sbetterforJeff。"
　　"Shemaybeverygladtogethim！"
　　"Ipresumesheis。She’salwayscaredforhim，Iguess。She’llknowhowtomanagehim。"
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidMrs。Durgin，"asIliketohaveyoutalkso，aboutJeff。Hewashere，justnow，wantin’togiveuphislastyearinHarvard，so’stoletyougooffonavacation。Hethinksyou’veworkedyourselfdown。"
　　JacksonmadenorecognitionofJeff’sprofessedself—sacrifice。"Idon’twantanyvacation。I’mfeelingfirst—ratenow。IguessthatstuffIhadfromthewritin’mediumhasbeguntotakeholdofme。Idon’tknowwhenI’vefeltsowell。IbelieveI’mgoingtogetstrongerthaneverIwas。
　　JeffsayIneededarest？"
　　Somethinglikeasmileofcompassionforthedelusionofhisbrotherdawneduponthesickman’swastedface，whichwasblotchedwithlargefreckles，andstaredwithdim，largeeyesfromoutaframeworkofgrayishhair，andgrayishbeardcuttotheedgesofthecheeksandchin。
　　XXIV。
　　Mrs。DurginandCynthiadidnotseekanyformalmeetingthenextmorning。
　　Thecourseoftheirworkbroughtthemtogether，butitwasnottillaftertheyhadtransactedseveralhouseholdaffairsofpressingimportancethatMrs。Durginasked："What’sthisaboutyouandJeff？"
　　"Hashebeentellingyou？"askedCynthia，inherturn，thoughsheknewhehad。
　　"Yes，"saidMrs。Durgin，withacertaindryness，whichwashalfhumorous。
　　"Ipresume，ifyoutwoaresatisfied，it’sallright。"
　　"Iguesswe’resatisfied，"saidthegirl，withatremorofreliefwhichshetriedtohide。
　　Nothingmorewassaid，andtherewasnophysicaldemonstrationofaffectionorrejoicingbetweenthewomen。Theyknewthatthetimewouldcomewhentheywouldtalkovertheaffairdowntothebonetogether，butnowtheywerecontenttorecognizethefact，andletthetimefortalkingarrivewhenitwould。"Iguess，"saidMrs。Durgin，"you’dbettergoovertothehelps’houseandseehowthatyoungestMillergirl’sgittin’
　　along。She’doughttogiveupandgohomeifshea’n’tfitforherwork。"
　　"I’llgoandseeher，"saidCynthia。"Idon’tbelieveshe’sstrongenoughforawaitress，andIhavegottotellherso。"
　　"Well，"returnedMrs。Durgin，glumly，afteramoment’sreflection，"Ishouldn’twantyoushouldhurryher。Waittillshe’soutofbed，andgiveheranotherchance。"
　　"Allright。"
　　Jeffhadbeenlurkingaboutfortheeventoftheinterview，andhewaylaidCynthiaonthepathtothehelps’house。
　　"I’mgoingovertoseethatyoungestMillergirl，"sheexplained。
　　"Yes，Iknowallaboutthat，"saidJeff。"Well，mothertookitjustright，didn’tshe？Youcan’talwayscountonher；butIhadn’tmuchanxietyinthiscase。Shelikesyou，Cynthia。"
　　"Iguessso，"saidthegirl，demurely；andshelookedawayfromhimtosmileherpleasureinthefact。
　　"ButIbelieveifshehadn’tknownyouwerewithheraboutmylastyearinHarvard——itwouldhavebeendifferent。Icouldsee，whenIbroughtitinthatyouwantedmetogoback，hermindwasmadeupforyou。"
　　"Whyneedyousayanythingaboutthat？"
　　"Oh，Iknewitwouldclinchher。Iunderstandmother。Ifyouwantsomethingfromheryoumustn’taskitstraightout。Youmustproposesomethingverydisagreeable。Thenwhensherefusesthat，youcancomeinforwhatyouwerereallyafterandgetit。"
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidCynthia，"asIshouldliketothinkthatyourmotherhadbeentrickedintofeelingrightaboutme。"
　　"Tricked！"ThecolorflashedupinJeff’sface。
　　"Notthat，Jeff，"saidthegirl，tenderly。"ButyouknowwhatImean。
　　Ihopeyoutalkeditalloutfullywithher。"
　　"Fully？Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。"
　　"Aboutyournotstudyinglaw，and——everything。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveincrossingarivertillIcometoit，"saidJeff。
　　"Ididn’tsayanythingtoheraboutthat。"
　　"Youdidn’t！"
　　"No。Whathaditgottodowithourbeingengaged？"
　　"WhathadyourgoingbacktoHarvardtodowithit？IfyourmotherthinksI’mwithherinthat，she’llthinkI’mwithherintheother。
　　AndI’mnot。I’mwithyou。"Sheletherhandfindhis，astheywalkedsidebyside，andgaveitalittlepressure。
　　"It’sthegreatestthing，Cynthy，"hesaid，breathlessly，"tohaveyouwithmeinthat。But，ifyousaidIoughttostudylaw，Ishoulddoit。"
　　"Ishouldn’tsaythat，forIbelieveyou’reright；butevenifIbelievedyouwerewrong，Ishouldn’tsayit。Youhavearighttomakeyourlifewhatyouwantit；andyourmotherhasn’t。Onlyshemustknowit，andyoumusttellheratonce。"
　　"Atonce？"
　　"Yes——now。Whatgoodwillitdotoputitoff？You’renotafraidtotellher！"
　　"Idon’tlikeyoutousethatword。"
　　"AndIdon’tliketouseit。ButIknowhowitis。You’reafraidthatthebruntofitwillcomeonME。She’llthinkyou’reallright，butI’mallwrongbecauseIagreewithyou。"
　　"Somethinglikethat。"
　　"Well，now，I’mnotafraidofanythingshecansay；andwhatcouldshedo？Shecan’tpartus，unlessyoulether，andthenIshouldlether，too。"
　　"Butwhat’sthehurry？What’stheneedofdoingitrightoff？"
　　"Becauseit’sadeceitnottodoit。It’salie！"
　　"Idon’tseeitinthatlight。Imightchangemymind，andstillgoonandstudylaw。"
　　"Youknowyouneverwill。Now，Jeff！Whydoyouactso？"
　　Jeffdidnotansweratonce。Hewalkedbesideherwithafaceoftroublethatbecameoneofresolveinthesetjaws。"Iguessyou’reright，Cynthy。She’sgottoknowtheworst，andthesoonersheknowsitthebetter。"
　　"Yes！"
　　Hehadanothermomentoffaltering。"Youdon’twantIshouldtalkitoverwithMr。Westover？"
　　"Whathashegottodowithit？"
　　"That’strue！"
　　"Ifyouwanttoseeitintherightlight，youcanthinkyou’veletitrunontillafteryou’reoutofcollege，andthenyou’vegottotellher。
　　Supposesheaskedyouhowlongyouhadmadeupyourmindagainstthelaw，howshouldyoufeel？AndifsheaskedmewhetherI’dknownitallalong，andIhadtosayIhad，andthatI’dsupportedandencouragedyouinit，howshouldIfeel？"
　　"Shemightn’taskanysuchquestion，"saidJeff，gloomily。Cynthiagavealittleimpatient"Oh！"andhehastenedtoadd："Butyou’reright；I’vegottotellher。I’lltellherto—night——"
　　"Don’twaittillto—night；doitnow。"
　　"Now？"
　　"Yes；andI’llgowithyouassoonasI’veseentheyoungestMillergirl。"Theyhadreachedthehelps’housenow，andCynthiasaid："Youwaitoutsidehere，andI’llgorightbackwithyou。Oh，Ihopeitisn’tdoingwrongtoputitofftillI’veseenthatgirl！"Shedisappearedthroughthedoor，andJeffwaitedbythestepsoutside，pluckinguponelonggrassstemafteranotherandbitingitintwo。WhenCynthiacameoutshesaid："Iguessshe’llbeallright。Nowcome，anddon’t—loseanothersecond。"
　　"You’reafraidIsha’n’tdoitifIwaitanylonger！"
　　"I’mafraidIsha’n’t。"Therewasasilenceafterthis。
　　"DoyouknowwhatIthinkofyou，Cynthy？"askedJeff，hurryingtokeepupwithherquicksteps。"You’vegotmorecourage——"
　　"Oh，don’tpraiseme，orIshallbreakdown！"
　　"I’llseethatyoudon’tbreakdown，"saidJeff，tenderly。"It’sthegreatestthingtohaveyougowithme！"
　　"Why，don’tyouSEE？"shelamented。"Ifyouwentalone，andtoldyourmotherthatIapprovedofit，youwouldlookasifyouwereafraid，andwantedtogetbehindme；andI’mnotgoingtohavethat。"
　　Theyfound。Mrs。Durgininthedarkentryoftheoldfarmhouse，andCynthiasaid，withinvoluntaryimperiousness："Comeinhere，Mrs。Durgin；
　　Iwanttotellyousomething。"
　　Sheledthewaytotheoldparlor，andshecheckedMrs。Durgin’squestion，"HasthatMillergirl——"
　　"Itisn’tabouther，"saidCynthy，pushingthedoorto。"It’saboutmeandJeff。"
　　Mrs。DurginbecameawareofJeff’spresencewithaneffectofsurprise。
　　"Therea’n’tanythingmore，isthere？"
　　"Yes，thereis！"Cynthiashrilled。"Now，Jeff！"
　　"It’sjustthis，mother：CynthythinksIoughttotellyou——andshethinksIoughttohavetoldyoulastnight——sheexpectedmeto——thatI’mnotgoingtostudylaw。"
　　"AndIapproveofhisnotdoingit，"Cynthiapromptlyfollowed，andsheputherselfbesideJeffwherehestoodinfrontofhismother’srocking—
　　chair。
　　Shelookedfromonetotheotherofthefacesbeforeher。"I’msorryasonofmine，"shesaid，withdignity，"hadtobetoldhowtoactwithhismother。But，ifhehad，Idon’tknowasanybodyhadabetterrighttodoitthanthegirlthat’sgoingtomarryhim。AndI’llsaythis，CynthiaWhitwell，beforeIsayanythingelse：you’vebegunright。IwishIcouldsayJeffhad。"
　　TherewasanuncomfortablemomentbeforeCynthiasaid："Heexpectedtotellyou。"
　　"OhYes！Iknow，"saidhismother，sadly。Sheadded，sharply："Anddidbeexpecttotellmewhatheintendedtodoforalivin’？"
　　"Jefftooktheword。"Yes，Idid。Iintendtokeepahotel。"
　　"Whathotel？"askedMrs。Durgin，withatouchoftauntinginhertone。
　　"Thisone。"
　　Themotherofthebold，rebelliousboythatJeffhadbeenstirredinMrs。
　　Durgin’sheart，andshelookedathimwiththeeyes，thatusedtocondonehismischief。Butshesaid："Iguessyou’llfindoutthatthere’smorethanonehastoagreetothat。"
　　"Yes，therearetwo：youandJackson；andIdon’tknowbutwhatthree，ifyoucountCynthy，here。"
　　Hismotherturnedtothegirl。"Youthinkthisfellow’sgotsenseenoughtokeepahotel？"
　　"Yes，Mrs。Durgin，Ido。Ithinkhe’sgotgoodideasaboutahotel。"
　　"Andwhat’shegoin’todowithhiscollegeeducation？"
　　Jeffinterposed。"Youthinkthatallthecollegegraduatesturnoutlawyersanddoctorsandprofessors？Someof’emaremightygladtosweepoutbanksinhopesofaclerkship；andsometakeanysortofaplaceinamillorabusinesshouse，toworkup；andsomebumroundoutWest’oncattleranches；andsome，ifthey’relucky，getnewspaperreporters’
　　placesattendollarsaweek。"
　　Cynthiafollowedwiththegeneralization："Idon’tbelieveanybodycanknowtoomuchtokeepahotel。Itwon’thurtJeffifhe’sbeentoHarvard，ortoEurope，either。"
　　"Iguessthere’sapairofyou，"saidMrs。Durgin，withsuperficialcontempt。Shewassilentforatime，andtheywaited。"Well，there！"
　　shebrokeoutagain。"I’vegotsomethingtochewuponforaspell，I
　　guess。Goalong，now，bothofyou！Andthenexttimeyou’vegottofaceyourmother，Jeff，don’tyoucomeinlookin’roundanybody’spetticoats！
　　I’llseeyoulateraboutallthis。"
　　Theywentawaywiththejoyfulshameofchildrenwhohaveescapedpunishment。
　　"That’sthelastofit，Cynthy，"saidJeff。
　　"Iguessso，"thegirlassented，withacertaingriefinhervoice。
　　"Iwishyouhadtoldherfirst！"
　　"Oh，nevermindthatnow！"criedJeff，andinthedimpassagewayhetookherinhisarmsandkissedher。
　　Hewouldhavereleasedher，butshelingeredinhisembrace。"Willyoupromisethatifthere’severanythinglikeitagain，youwon’twaitformetomakeyou？"
　　"Ilikeyourhavingmademe，butIpromise，"hesaid。
　　Thenshetightenedherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。
　　XXV。
　　ThewillofJeff’smotherrelaxeditsgripuponthepurposesolongheld，asifthemerestrainofthetenacityhadweariedandweakenedit。Whenitfinallyappearedthatherambitionforhersonwasnothisambitionforhimselfandwouldneverbe，sheabandonedit。Perhapsitwastheeasierforhertoforegoherhopesofhisdistinctionintheworld，becauseshehadlearnedbeforethatshemustforegoherhopesofhiminotherways。ShehadvaguelyfanciedthatwiththeacquaintancehiscareeratHarvardwouldopentohimJeffwouldmakeasplendidmarriage。
　　Shehadfolloweddarklingandstumblinghiscourseinsocietyasfarashewouldreportittoher，andwhenhewouldnotsufferhertogloryinit，shebelievedthathewasforbiddingherfromapridethatwouldnotrecognizeanythingoutofthecommoninit。Sheexultedinhispride，andshetookallhissnubbingreservestenderly，assomanyproofsofhissuccess。
　　Atthebottomofherheartshehadbothfearandcontemptofalltowns—
　　people，whomshegeneralizedfromherexperienceofthemassummerfolksofagreaterorlessersilliness。Sheoftenfoundherselfunabletocopewiththem，evenwhenshefeltthatshehadtwicetheirsense；sheperceivedthattheyhadsomethingfromtheirtrainingthatwithallherundisciplinedforceshecouldneverhopetowinfromherownenvironment。
　　Butshebelievedthathersonwouldhavetheadvantageswhichbaffledherinthem，forhewouldhavetheirenvironment；andshehadwishedhimtorivethisholduponthoseadvantagesbytakingawifefromamongthem，andbylivingthelifeoftheirworld。Herwishes，ofcourse，hadnosuchdistinctformulation，andthefeelingshehadtowardCynthiaasapossiblebarriertoherambitionhadnomoredefinition。TherehadbeentimeswhenthefitnessofhermarriagewithJeffhadmovedthemother’shearttoajealousythatshealwayskeptsilent，whileshehopedfortheaccidentortheprovidencewhichshouldannulthedanger。ButGenevieveVostrandhadnotbeenthekindofaccidentortheprovidencethatshewouldhaveinvoked，andwhenshesawJeff’sfancyturningtowardher，Mrs。DurginhadveeredroundtoCynthia。AllthesameshekeptakeeneyeupontheyoungladiesamongthesummerfolkswhocametoLion’sHead，andtacitlycanvassedtheirmeritsandinclinationswithrespecttoJeffintheoften—imaginedeventofhiscaringforanyoneofthem。Shefoundthatherartfullycasualreferencestoherson’sbeinginHarvardscarcelyaffectedtheirmothersintherightway。Thefactmadethemthinkoftheheadwaiterswhomtheyhadmetatotherhotels，andwhowereworkingtheirwaythroughDartmouthorWilliamsorYale，anditrequiredalltheforceofJeff’srobustpersonalitytodissipatetheirerroneousimpressionsofhim。Hetooktheirdaughtersoutoftheirarmsandfromundertheirnosesonlongdrivesuponhisbuckboard，anditbecameaconventionwiththemtotreathisattentionssomewhatlikethoseofapowerfulbutfaithfulvassal。
　　Whetherhewasindifferent，orwhethertheyoungladieswerecoy，noneoftheseofficialflirtationscametoanything。Heseemednottocareforonemorethananother；helaughedandjokedwiththemall，andhadanofficialmannerwitheachwhichservedsomewhatlikeadisparityofyearsinputtingthemattheireasewithhim。Theyagreedthathewasveryhandsome，andsomethoughthimverytalented；buttheyquestionedwhetherhewasquitewhatyouwouldcallagentleman。Itistruethatthismisgivingattackedthemmostlyinthemass；singly，theywerelittleornotatalltroubledbyit，andtheyseverallybehavedinanunprincipledindifferencetoit。
　　Mrs。Durginhadthecourageofherownpurposes，butshehadthefearofJeff’s。AfterthefirstpangofthedisappointmentwhichtookfinalshapefromhisdeclarationthathewasgoingtomarryCynthia，shedidnotreallycaremuch。Shehadthehabitofthegirl；sherespectedher，sheevenlovedher。Thechildren，asshethoughtofthem，hadknowneachotherfromtheirearliestdays；JeffhadpersecutedCynthiathroughouthisgracelessboyhood，buthehadneverintimidatedher；andhismother，withallherweaknessforhim，feltthatitwaswellforhimthathiswifeshouldbebraveenoughtostandupagainsthim。