"Iwasexpectinghimeverymoment"；andWaitstillroseandstirredthefire。"HetookthepungandwenttotheMillsforgrain。"
　　"Hehasn’tanythinginthebackofthepung——and，oh，Waity！heisstandingupnowandwhippingthehorsewithallhismight。I
　　neversawhimdrivelikethatbefore：whatcanbethematter？Hecan’thaveseenmywedding—ring，andonlythreepeopleinalltheworldknowaboutmybeingmarried。"
　　Waitstillturnedfromthewindow，herheartbeatingalittlefaster。"Whatthreepeopleknow，threehundredarelikelytoknowsoonerorlater。Itmaybeafalsealarm，butfatherisinafuryaboutsomething。Hemustnotbetoldthenewsuntilheisinabetterhumor！"
　　XXVIII
　　PATTYISSHOWNTHEDOOR
　　DEACONBAXTERdroveintothebarn，andflingingablanketoverthewheezinghorse，closedthedoorbehindhimandhurriedintothehousewithouteventhinkingtolaydownhiswhip。
　　Openingthekitchendoorandstoppingoutsidelongenoughtokickthesnowfromhisheavyboots，hestrodeintothekitchenandconfrontedthetwogirls。Helookedatthemsharplybeforehespoke，scanningtheirflushedfacesandtear—stainedeyes；thenhebrokeoutsavagely：——
　　"Oh！you’rebothhere；that’slucky。Nowstan’upandanswertome。What’sthisIhearattheMillsaboutPatience，——commontalkoutsidethestore？"
　　Thetimehadcome，then，andbysomestrangefatality，whenMarkwastoofarawaytobeofservice。
　　"Tellmewhatyouheard，father，andIcangiveyouabetteranswer，"Pattyreplied，hedgingtogaintime，andshakinginwardly。
　　"BillMorrillsayshisbrotherthatworksinNewHampshirereportsyouasridin’throughthestreetsofAllentownlastMondaywithayoungman。"
　　Thereseemedbutonereplytothis，soPattyansweredtremblingly："Hesayswhat’strue；Iwasthere。"
　　"WHAT！"AnditwasplainfromtheDeacon’svoicethathehadreallydisbelievedtherumor。Awhirlwindofragesweptthroughhimandshookhimfromheadtofoot。
　　"Doyoumeantostan’therean’ownuptomethatyouwasthirtymilesawayfromhomewithayoungman？"heshouted。
　　"Ifyouaskmeaplainquestion，I’vegottotellyouthetruth，father：Iwas。"
　　"Howdareyoucarryonlikethatanddragmynameintoscandal，youworthlesstrollop，you？Whowentalongwithyou？I’llskinthehideoffhim，whoever’twas！"
　　Pattyremainedmuteatthisthreat，butWaitstillcaughtherhandandwhispered："Tellhimall，dear；it’sgottocomeout。Bebrave，andI’11standbyyou。"
　　"Whyareyouinterferin’andputtin’inyourmeddlesomeoar？"theDeaconsaid，turningtoWaitstill。"Thegirlwouldnever’a’beenthereifyou’dattendedtoyourbusiness。She’snothin’butafoolofayoungfilly，an’you’reanoldcart—horse。Itwasyourjobtolookoutforherasyourmothertoldyouto。Anybodymight’a’guessedsheneededwatchin’！"
　　"Youshallnotcallmysisteranoldcart—horse！I’llnotpermitit！"criedPatty，pluckingupcourageinhersister’sdefence，andasusualcomportingherselfatriflemorelikeaspitfirethanatrueheroineoftragedy。
　　"Hush，Patty！Lethimcallmeanythingthathelikes；itmakesnodifferenceatsuchatime。"
　　"Waitstillknewnothingofmygoingawaytillthisafternoon，"
　　continuedPatty。"Ikeptitsecretfromheronpurpose，becauseI
　　wasafraidshewouldnotapprove。IwentwithMarkWilson，and——and——ImarriedhiminNewHampshirebecausewecouldn’tdoitathomewithoutevery—body’sknowledge。Nowyouknowall。"
　　"Doyoumeantotellmeyou’vegonean’marriedthatreckless，wuthless，horse—trottin’，card—playin’sneakofaWilsonboythat’scourtedeverygirlintown？Marriedthesonofamanthathasquarrelledwithmeandinsultedmeinpublic？BytheLordHarry，I’llcrackthiswhipoveryourshouldersoncebeforeI’mdonewithyou！IfI’dusedityearsagoyoumighthavebeenanhonestwomanto—day，insteadofa——"
　　FoxwellBaxterhadwhollylostcontrolofhimself，andthetemper，thathadneverbeengovernedorheldincheck，lasheditselfintoafurythatmadehimforthemomentunaccountableforhiswordsoractions。
　　WaitstilltookastepforwardinfrontofPatty。"Putdownthatwhip，father，orI’lltakeitfromyouandbreakitacrossmyknee！"Hereyesblazedandsheheldherheadhigh。"You’vemademedotheworkofaman，and，thankGod，I’vegotthemuscleofone。Don’tliftafingertoPatty，orI’11defendher，Ipromiseyou！Thedinner—hornisinthesideentryandtwoblastswillbringUncleBartupthehill，butI’drathernotcallhimunlessyouforcemeto。"
　　TheDeacon’sgrasponthewhiprelaxed，andhefellbackalittleinsheerastonishmentatthebravadoofthegirl，ordinarilysoquietandself—contained。Hewasspeechlessforasecond，andthenrecoveredbreathenoughtoshouttotheterrifiedPatty："I
　　won’tusethewhiptillIhearwhetheryou’vegotanyexcuseforyourscandalousbehavior。Hearmetellyouonething：thislittlepleasure—tripo’yournwon’tdoyounogood，forI’11breakthemarriage！Iwon’thaveaWilsoninmyfamilyifIhavetoemptyashot—gunintohim；butyourliesandyourlowstreetsaresobeyondreasonIcan’tbelievemyears。What’syourexcuse，I
　　say？"
　　"Stopaminute，Patty，beforeyouanswer，andletmesayafewthingsthatoughttohavebeensaidbeforenow，"interposedWaitstill。"IfPattyhasdonewrong，father，you’venoonebutyourselftothankforit，andit’sonlybyGod’sgracethatnothingworsehashappenedtoher。Whatcouldyouexpectfromayoungthinglikethat，withhermerryheartturnedintoalumpinherbreasteverydaybyyourcruelty？Didshedeceiveyou？Well，you’vemadeherafraidofyoueversinceshewasababyinthecradle，drawingthecoversoverherlittleheadwhensheheardyourstep。Whatevercropyousowisboundtocomeup，father；
　　that’sNature’slaw，andGod’s，aswell。"
　　"Youholdyourtongue，you，——readin’thelawtoyoureldersan’
　　betters，"saidtheoldman，chokingwithwrath。"Mybusinessiswiththiswuthlesssistero’yourn，notwithyou！——You’vegotyourcoatandhoodon，miss，soyoujestclearouto’thehouse；
　　an’ifyou’retooslowaboutit，I’llhelpyoualong。I’venokindofanideayou’rerightlymarried，forthatyoungWilsonsneakcouldn’tpaysohighforyouasallthat；butifitamusesyoutocallhimyourhusband，goan’findhiman’staywithhim。
　　Thisisanhonesthouse，an’noplaceforsuchasyou！"
　　PattyhadagoodshareoftheBaxtertemper，notundersuchcontrolasWaitstill’s，andthebloodmountedintoherface。
　　"Youshallnotspeaktomeso！"shesaidintrepidly，whilekeepingadiscreeteyeonthewhip。"I’mnota——a——caterpillartobesteppedon，I’mamarriedwoman，asrightasaNewHampshirejusticecanmakeme，withawedding—ringandacertificatetoshow，ifneedbe。Andyoushallnotcallmyhusbandnames！Timewilltellwhatheisgoingtobe，andthat’sason—in—lawanytruefatherwouldbeproudtoown！"
　　"Whyareyousetagainstthismatch，father？"arguedWaitstill，strivingtomakehimhearreason。"Pattyhasmarriedintooneofthebestfamiliesinthevillage。Markisgayandthought—less，butneverhashebeenseentheworseforliquor，andneverhashedoneathingforwhichawifeneedhangherhead。Itissomethingforayoungfellowoffour—and—twentytobeabletoprovideforawifeandkeepherincomfort；andwhenallissaidanddone，itisatruelove—match。"
　　Pattyseizedthisinopportunemomenttoforgetherfather’spresence，andthetragicnatureoftheoccasion，and，inherusualimpetuousfashion，flungherarmsaroundWaitstill’sneckandgaveherthehugofayoungbear。
　　"Myowndearsister，"shesaid。"Idon’tmindanything，solongasyoustandupforus。"
　　"Don’tmakehergoto—night，father，"pleadedWaitstill。"Don’tsendyourownchildoutintothecold。Rememberherhusbandisawayfromhome。"
　　"ShecanfindanotherupattheMillsasgoodasheis，orbetter。Offwithyou，Isay，youtrumperylittlebaggage，you！"
　　"Go，then，dear，itisbetterso；UncleBartwillkeepyouovernight；runupandgetyourthings"；andWaitstillsankintoachair，realizingthehopelessnessofthesituation。
　　"She’11nottakeanythingfrommyhouse。It’sherhusband’sbusinesstofindherinclothes。"
　　"They’llbebetteronesthaneveryoufoundme，"wasPatty’sresponse。
　　Noheroicsforher；nofaintingfitsatbeingdisowned；nohystericsatbeingturnedoutofhouseandhome；noprayersformercy，butaquickretortforeverygibefromherfather；andherdefiantattitudeenragedtheDeaconthemore。
　　"Iwon’tspeakagain，"hesaid，inatonethatcouldnotbemistaken。"Intothestreetyougo，withtheclothesyoustandupin，orI’11dowhatIsaidI’ddo。"
　　"Go，Patty，it’stheonlythingtobedone。Don’ttremble，fornobodyshalltouchahairofyourhead。Icantrustyoutofindshelterto—night，andMarkwilltakecareofyouto—morrow。"
　　Pattybuttonedhershabbycoatandtiedonherhoodasshewalkedfromthekitchenthroughthesitting—roomtowardsthesidedoor，herheartheavingwithshameandanger，andaboveallwithachild’ssenseofhelplessnessatbeingpartedfromhersister。
　　"Don’ttelltheneighborsanymoreliesthanyoucanhelp，"
　　calledherfatherafterherretreatingform；"an’ifanyof’emdaretocomeupherean’givemeanyoftheirimperdence，they’llbetreatedsameasyou。Comebackhere，Waitstill，anddon’tgotoslobberin’anygood—byesoverher。Sheain’tlikelytogetouto’thevillageforsometimeifshe’sexpectin’MarkWilsontotakeheraway。"
　　"Ishallcertainlygotothedoorwithmysister，"saidWaitstillcoldly，suitingtheactiontotheword，andfollowingPattyoutonthesteps。"ShallyoutellUncleBarteverything，dear，andaskhimtoletyousleepathishouse？"
　　Bothgirlsweretremblingwithexcitement；Waitstillpaleasaghost，Pattyflushedandtearful，withdefianteyesandlipsthatquiveredrebelliously。
　　"Is’poseso，"sheanswereddolefully；"thoughAuntAbbyhatesme，onaccountofCephas。I’drathergotoDr。Perry’s，butI
　　don’tliketomeetPhil。Theredoesn’tseemtobeanygoodplaceforme，butit’sonlyforanight。Andyou’11notletfatherpreventyourseeingMarkandmeto—morrow，willyou？Areyouafraidtostayalone？I’11sitonthestepsallnightifyousaytheword。"
　　"No，no，runalong。Fatherhasventedhisrageuponyou，andI
　　shallnothaveanymoretrouble。Godblessandkeepyou，darling。
　　Runalong！"
　　"Andyou’renotangrywithmenow，Waity？Youstillloveme？Andyou’llforgiveMarkandcometostaywithussoon，soon，soon？"
　　"We’llsee，dear，whenallthisunhappybusinessissettled，andyouaresafeandhappyinyourownhome。Ishallhavemuchtotellyouwhenwemeetto—morrow。"
　　XXIX
　　WAITSTILLSPEAKSHERMIND
　　Pattyhadthemostardentloveforhereldersister，andsomethingthatresembledreverenceforherunselfishness，herloyalty，andherstrengthofcharacter；butifthetruthweretoldshehadnogreatopinionofWaitstill’sabilitytofeelrighteouswrath，norofherpowertoavengeherselfinthefaceofrankinjustice。Itwastheconvictionofherownsuperiorfinesseandaudacitythathadsustainedpattyallthroughherlateescapade。Shefeltherselfaluckygirl，indeed，toachievelibertyandhappinessforherself，butdoublyluckyifshehadchancedtoopenawayofescapeforhermoredocileanddutifulsister。
　　ShewouldhavebeenatrifleastonishedhadshesurmisedtheexistenceofcertainmysteriouswavesthathadbeensweepingalongthecoastsofWaitstill’smindthatafternoon，breakingdownallsortsofdefencesandcarryingherwillalongwiththembysheerforce：butitisatruismthattwohumanbeingscanlivebesideeachotherforhalfacenturyandyetcontinuestrangers。
　　Patty’selopementwiththeyouthofherchoice，takingintoaccountallitsattendantrisks，wasIndeedanexhibitionofcourageandinitiativenotcommontogirlsofseventeen；butWaitstillwasmeditatingamutinymoredaringyet——amutiny，too，involvingacourseofconductmostunusualinmaidensofpuritandescent。
　　Shewalkedbackintothekitchentofindherfathersittingplacidlyintherocking—chairbythewindow。Hehadlightedhiscorn—cobpipe，inwhichhealwayssmokedamixtureofdriedsweet—fernasbeingcheaperthantobacco，andhisfaceworesomethingresemblingasmile——afoxysmile——ashewatchedhisyoungest—bornploughingdownthehillthroughthedeepsnow，whilethemoreobedientWaitstillmovedabouttheroom，settingsupperonthetable。
　　ConversationwasnottheDeacon’sforte，butitseemedproperforsomeonetobreaktheicethatseemedsuddenlytobeverythickintheimmediatevicinity。
　　"ThatlittleJill—go—over—the—groundwillgivetheneighborsapleasantevenin’tellin’’em’boutme，"hechuckled。"AuntAbbyColewillrunthestreetso’thethreevillagesbysun—upto—morrer；butnobodypaysany’tentiontoawomanwhosetongueishunginthemiddleandwagsatbothends。Iwa’n’tintendingtousethewhiponyoursister，Waitstill，"continuedtheDeacon，withacraftylookathissilentdaughter，"thoughatrouncin’
　　would’a’doneherasighto’good；butIwasonlytryin’tofrightenheralittlemitean’payherupforbringin’disgraceonusthewayshe’sdone，makin’usthetalko’thetown。Well，she’sgone，an’goodriddancetobadrubbish，sayI！Onelessmouthtofeed，an’onelessbodytoclothe。You’llmissherjestatfirst，onaccounto’therebein’nootherwomen—folksonthehill，but’twon’tlastlong。I’llhaveBillMorrilldosomeo’youroutsidechores，so’tyoucantakeonyoursister’swork，ifsheeverdoneany。"
　　ThiswasamostastoundinglygenerouspropositionontheDeacon’spart，andtotellthetruthhedidnothimselffullyunderstandhismentalprocesseswhenhemadeit；butitseemedtobedrawnfromhimbyakindofinstinctthathewasnotstandingwellinhiselderdaughter’sbooks。Thoughthetwogirlshadnevermadeanydemonstrationoftheiraffectioninhispresence，hehadafairideaoftheirmutualdependenceuponeachother。NotthatheplacedtheslightestvalueonWaitstill’sopinionofhim，orcaredinthesmallestdegreewhatshe，oranyoneelseintheuniverse，thoughtofhisconduct；butshecertainlydidappeartoadvantagewhencontrastedwiththepertlittlehussywhohadjustleftthepremises。Also，Waitstillloomedlargeinhishouseholdcomfortsandeconomies，havingaclearhead，asurehand，andbeingoneofthesteady—going，reliablesortthatcanbecountedoninemergencies，not，likePatty，goingoffathalf—cockatthesmallestprovocation。Yes，Waitstill，asaproductofhismasterlytrainingforthelastsevenyears，hadsettleddown，notwithoutsometroubleandfriction，intoatolerablydependablepack—horse，andheintendedinthefuturetousesomecareinmakingpermanentsovaluableanaidandally。Shedidnotpursuenorattracttheoppositesex，ashisyoungerdaughterapparentlydid；sobycontinuinghispolicyofkeepingallyoungmenrigidlyatadistancehecouldcountconfidentlyonhaving’，Waitstillservehispurposesforthenextfifteenortwentyyears，oraslongashe，himself，shouldcontinuetoornamentandenrichtheearth。HewouldgotoSacotheverynextday，andcutPattyoutofhiswill，arranginghispropertysothatWaitstillshouldbethechieflegateeaslongasshecontinuedtoliveobedientlyunderhisroof。HeintendedtomakethelastpointclearifhehadtoconsulteverylawyerinYorkCounty；forhewouldn’ttakerisksonanywomanalive。
　　Ifhemustleavehismoneyanywhere——anditwaswithabitterpangthathefacedtheinexorableconvictionthathecouldneitherliveforever，nortakehissavingswithhimtotherealmsofblisspreparedformembersoftheOrthodoxChurchingoodandregularstanding——ifhemustleavehismoneybehindhim，hewoulddigaholeinthegroundandburyit，ratherthanletitgotoanyonewhohadangeredhiminhislifetime。
　　Thesewerethethoughtsthatcausedhimtorelaxhisirongripandsmileashesatbythewindow，smokinghiscorn—cobpipeandtakingoneofhisveryrareperiodsofrest。
　　Presentlyheglancedattheclock。"It’sonlyquarter—pastfour，"
　　hesaid。"Ithought’twaslater，butthesnowmakesitsolightyoucan’tjedgethetime。Themoonfullsto—night，don’tit？Yes；
　　cometothinkofit，Iknowitdoes。Ain’tyousettin’outsupperalittlemiteearly，Waitstill？"Thiswasalongerandmoreamiablespeechthanhehadmadeinyears，butWaitstillneverglancedathimasshesaid："Itisalittleearly，butIwanttogetitreadybeforeIleave。"
　　"Beyougoin’out？Mind，Iwon’thaveyoufollerin’Patienceround；you’llonlyupsetwhatI’vedone，an’anyhowIwantyoutokeepawayfromtheneighborsforafewdays，tillallthisblowsover。"
　　Hespokefirmly，thoughforhimmildly，forhestillhadtheuneasyfeelingthathestoodonthebrinkofavolcano；and，asamatteroffact，hetumbledintoittheverynextmoment。
　　Themeagresupperwasspread；aplateofcold；sodabiscuits，adried—applepie，andtheusualbrownteapotwereinevidence；andasherfatherceasedspeakingWaitstillopenedthedoorofthebrickovenwherethebean—potreposed，setachairbythetable，andturning，tookuphercoat（hermother’soldriding—cloak，itwas），andcalmlyputiton，reachingthenforherhoodandhersquirreltippet。
　　"Youaregoin’out，then，spiteo’whatIsaid？"theDeaconinquiredsternly。
　　"Didyoureallythink，father，thatIwouldsleepunderyourroofafteryouhadturnedmysisteroutintothesnowtolodgewithwhoevermighttakeherin——myseventeenyear—old—sisterthatyourwifelefttomycare；mylittlesister，theverylightofmylife？"
　　Waitstill’svoicetrembledatrifle，butother—wiseshewasquitecalmandfreefromheroicsofanysort。
　　TheDeaconlookedupinsurprise。"Iguessyou’rekindo’
　　hystericky，"hesaid。"Setdown——setdownan’talkthingsover。I
　　ain’tgotnothin’ag’in’you，an’Imeantotreatyouright。Setdown！"
　　Theoldmanwasdecidedlynervous，andintendedtokeephistemperuntiltherewasasaferchancetoletitfly。
　　Waitstillsatdown。"There’snothingtotalkover，"shesaid。"I
　　havedoneallthatIpromisedmystepmotherthenightshedied，andnowIamgoing。Ifthere’sadutyowedbetweendaughterandfather，itoughttoworkbothways。IconsiderthatIhavedonemyshare，andnowIintendtoseekhappinessformyself。Ihaveneverhadany，andIamstarvingforit。"
　　"An’you’dleavemetogitonthebestIcan，afterwhatI’vedoneforyou？"burstouttheDeacon，stilltryingtoholddownhisgrowingpassion。
　　"Yougavememylife，andI’mthankfultoyouforthat，butyou’vegivenmelittlesince，father。"
　　"Hain’tIfedan’clothedyou？"
　　"NomorethanIhavefedandclothedyou。You’veprovidedtherawfood，andI’vecookedandservedit。You’veboughtandIhavemadeshirtsandoverallsandcoatsforyou，andknittedyoursocksandcomfortersandmittens。NotonlyhaveItoiledandsavedandscrimpedawaymygirlhoodasyoubademe，butI’veearnedforyou。Whomadethebutter，andtookcareofthehens，anddriedtheapples，and’drewin’therugs？Whoraisedandgroundthepeppersforsale，andtendedthegeesethatyoumightsellthefeathers？No，father，Idon’tconsiderthatI’minyourdebt！"
　　XXX
　　ACLASHOFWILLS
　　DEACONFOXWELLBAXTERwascompletelynon—plussedforthefirsttimeinhislife。Hehadneverallowed"argyfyin’"inhishousehold，andtherehadneverbeenaclashofwillsbeforethiswhenhehadnotcomeoffswiftlyandbrutallytriumphant。Thissituationwascomplicatedbythefactthathedidnotdaretoapplythebrakesasusual，sincethereweremoreissuesinvolvedthaneverbefore。Hefelttoostunnedtodealproperlywiththisdaughter，havingemptiedallthevialsofhiswrathupontheotherone，andbeing，inconsequence，somewhatenfeebled。ItwasalwayseasyenoughtocopewithPatty，forherimpertinenceevokedsuchragethattheargumenttookcareofitself；butthisgraveyoungwomanwasadifferentmatter。Thereshesatcomposedlyontheedgeofherwoodenchair，herheadliftedhigh，hercolorcomingandgoing，hereyesshiningsteadily，likefixedstars；thereshesat，calmlyannouncingherintentionofleavingherfathertoshiftforhimself；yettheskiesseemedtohavenothoughtoffalling！Hefeltthathemustmakeanotherefforttoasserthisauthority。
　　"Now，youtakeoffyourcoat，"hesaid，thepipeinhishandtremblingashestirrednervouslyinhischair。"Youtakeyourcoatrightoffan’setdowntothesupper—table，sameasusual，doyouhear？Eatyourvictualsan’thengotoyourbedan’gitoverthiscrazyfitthatPatiencehasstartedworkin’inyou。Nomorenonsense，now；doasItellyou！"
　　"Ihavemadeupmymind，father，andit’snousearguing。Allwhotrytolivewithyoufail，soonerorlater。Youhavehadfourchildren，father。Oneboyranaway；theotherdidnotmindbeingdrowned，Ifear，sincelifewassohardathome。Youhavejustturnedthethirdchildoutforasinofdeceitanddisobedienceshewouldneverhavecommitted——forhernatureisasclearascrystal——ifyouhadeverlovedherorconsideredherhappiness。
　　SoIhavedonewithyou，unlessinyouroldageGodshouldbringyoutosuchapassthatnooneelsewillcometoyourassistance；
　　thenI’dseesomehowthatyouwerecaredforandnursedandmadecomfortable。Youarenotanoldman；youarestrongandhealthy，andyouhaveplentyofmoneytogetagoodhouse—keeper。Ishoulddecidedifferently，perhaps，ifallthiswerenottrue。"
　　"Youlie！Ihaven’tgotplentyofmoney！"AndtheDeaconstruckthetableasuddenblowthatmadethechinainthecupboardrattle。"You’venonotionwhatthishousecostsme，an’thefeedforthestock，an’youtwogirls，an’laboratthestore，an’thehay—field，an’thetaxesan’insurance！I’veslavedfromsunrisetosunsetbutIain’thardlybeenabletolayupacent。Is’posetheneighborshavebeenfillin’youfullo’talesaboutmymis’ablelittlesavin’san’makin’’emintoafortune。Well，youwon’tgitanyof’em，Ipromiseyouthat！"
　　"Youhaveplentylaidaway；everybodyknows，sowhat’stheuseofdenyingit？Anyway，Idon’twantapennyofyourmoney，father，sogood—bye。There’senoughcookedtokeepyouforacoupleofdays"；andWaitstillrosefromherchairanddrewonhermittens。
　　Fatheranddaughterconfrontedeachother，thesecretfuryofthemanmetbythesteadydeterminationofthegirl。TheDeaconwasbaffled，almostawed，byWaitstill’squietself—control；butattheverymomentthathewashalf—uncomprehendinglyglaringather，itdawneduponhimthathewasbeaten，andthatshewasmistressofthesituation。
　　Wherewouldshego？Whatwereherplans？——fordefiniteplansshehad，orshecouldnotmeethiseyewithsoresoluteagaze。Ifshedidleavehim，howcouldhecontrivetogetherbackagain，andsoescapethescornofthevillage，theavertedlook，thelessenedtrade？
　　"Whereareyougoin’now？"heasked，andthoughhetriedhisbesthecouldnotforthelifeofhimkeepbackonefinaltaunt。"I
　　s’pose，likeyoursister，you’vegotamaninyoureye？"Hechosethis，tohim，impossiblesuggestionasbeingthemostinsultingonethathecouldinventatthemoment。
　　"Ihave，"repliedWaitstill，"amaninmyeyeandinmyheart。Weshouldhavebeenhusbandandwifebeforethishadwenotbeenkeptapartbyobstaclestoostubbornforustoovercome。Mywayhaschancedtoopenfirst，thoughitwasnoneofmycontriving。"
　　Hadtherooffalleninuponhim，theDeaconcouldnothavebeenmoredumbfounded。Histongueliterallyclovetotheroofofhismouth；hisfacefell，andhismean，piercingeyesblinkedunderhisshaggybrowsasifseekinglight。
　　Waitstillstirredthefire，closedthebrickovenandputtheteapotonthebackofthestove，hungupthelong—handleddipperonitsaccustomednailoverthesink，andwenttothedoor。
　　Herfathercollectedhisscatteredwitsandpulledhimselftohisfeetbythearmsofthehigh—backedrocker。"Youshan’tstepoutsidethis306
　　roomtillyoutellmewhereyou’regoin’，"hesaidwhenhefoundhisvoice。
　　"Ihavenowishtokeepitsecret：IamgoingtoseeifMrs。
　　Masonwillkeepmeto—night。To—morrowIshallwalkdownriverandgetworkatthemills，butonmywayIshallstopattheBoyntons’totellIvoryIamreadytomarryhimassoonashe’sreadytotakeme。"
　　ThiswasenoughtostirthebloodoftheDeaconintoonelastfury。
　　"ImighthaveguesseditifIhadn’tbeenblindasabatan’deafasanadder！"Andhegavethetableanotherringingblowbeforeheleanedonittogatherstrength。"Ofcourse，itwouldbeoneo’thatcrazyBoyntoncrewyou’dtakeupwith，"heroared。