"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。
　　345
　　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。