"Well，Ihopethey’llneverhearanythingworse，"repliedherfather，flingingabucketofwateroverthelastofthewagonwheels。
　　"THEYCOULDN’T！"Thesewordswereneverspokenaloud，butoh！howPattylongedtoshoutthemwithaclarionvoiceasshewalkedawayinperfectsilence，hermajesticgaitshowing，shehoped，howsheresentedtheoutcomeoftheinterview。
　　I’vestooduptofather！"sheexclaimedtriumphantlyassheenteredthekitchenandsetdownheryellowbowlofeggsonthetable。"Istooduptohim，andansweredhimbackthreetimes！"
　　WaitstillwasbusywithherSaturdaymorningcooking，butsheturnedinalarm。
　　"Patty，whathaveyousaidanddone？Tellmequickly！"
　　"I’argyfied，’butitdidn’tdoanygood；hewon’tletmegotoEllen’sparty。"
　　Waitstillwipedherflouryhandsandputthemonhersister’sshoulders。
　　"HearwhatIsay，Patty：youmustnotarguewithfather，whateverhesays。Wedon’tlovehimandsothereisn’ttherightrespectinourhearts，butatleasttherecanberespectinourmanners。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveIcangoonforyears，holdingin，Waitstill！"
　　Pattywhimpered。
　　"Yes，youcan。Ihave！"
　　"You’redifferent，Waitstill。"
　　"Iwasn’tsodifferentatsixteen，butthat’sfiveyearsago，andI’vegotcontrolofmytongueandmytempersincethen。Sometime，perhaps，whenIhaveagrievancetoogreattoberightlyborne，sometimewhenyouareawayfromhereinahomeofyourown，I
　　shallspeakouttofather；justemptymyheartofallthedisappointmentandbitternessandrebellion。Somebodyoughttotellhimthetruth，andperhapsitwillbeme！"
　　"Iwishitcouldbeme，"exclaimedPattyvindictively，andwithanequaldisregardofgrammar。
　　"Youwouldspeakintemper，I’mafraid，Patty，andthatwouldspoilall。I’msorryyoucan’tgouptoEllen’s，"shesighed，turningbacktoherwork；"youdon’thavepleasureenoughforoneofyourage；still，don’tfret；somethingmayhappentochangethings，andanyhowtheweatherisgrowingwarmer，andyouandI
　　havesomanymoreoutingsinsummer—time。Smoothdownyourhair，child；therearestrawsinit，andit’sallroughwiththewind。
　　Idon’tlikeflyinghairaboutakitchen。"
　　"Iwishmyhairwasflyingsomewhereathousandmilesfromhere；
　　oratleastIshouldwishitifitdidnotmeanleavingyou；foroh。I’msomiserableanddisappointedandunhappy！"
　　Waitstillbentoverthegirlassheflungherselfdownbesidethetableandsmoothedhershouldergently。
　　"There，there，dear；itisn’tlikemygaylittlesistertocry。
　　Whatisthematterwithyouto—day，Patty？"
　　"Isupposeit’sthespring，"shesaid，wipinghereyeswithherapronandsmilingthroughhertears。"PerhapsIneedadoseofsulphurandmolasses。"
　　"Don’tyoufeelwellascommon？"
　　"Well？Ifeeltoowell！IfeelasifIwasayoungcoltshutupinanattic。Iwanttokickupmyheels，batterthedoordown，andgetoutintothepasture。It’snousetalking，Waity；——I
　　can’tgoonlivingwithoutabitofpleasureandIcan’tgoonbeingpatientevenforyoursake。Ifitweren’tforyou，I’drunawayasJobdid；andIneverbelievedMosesslippedonthelogs；
　　I’msurehethrewhimselfintotheriver，andsoshouldIifI
　　hadthecourage！"
　　"Stop，Patty，stop，dear！Youshallhaveyourbitofpasture，atleast。I’lldosomeofyourindoortasksforyou，andyoushallputonyoursunbonnetandgooutanddigthedandeliongreensfordinner。Takethebrokenknifeandamilkpananddon’tbringinsomuchearthwiththemasyoudidlasttime。Dryyoureyesandlookatthegreenthingsgrowing。Rememberhowyoungyouareandhowmanyyearsareaheadofyou！Goalong，dear！"
　　Waitstillwentaboutherworkwithratheraheavyheart。Waslifegoingtobemoreratherthanlessdifficult，nowthatPattywasgrowingup？Wouldsheheabletodoherdutybothbyfatherandsisterandkeeppeaceinthehousehold，asshehadvowed，inhersecretheart，alwaystodo？ShepausedeverynowandthentolookoutofthewindowandwaveanencouraginghandtoPatty。Thegirl’sbonnetwasoff，andheruncoveredheadblazedlikeredgoldinthesunlight。Theshortyounggrasswasdottedwithdandelionblooms，someofthemalreadygrowntohugedisksofyellow，andPattymovedhitherandthither，selectingtheyoungerweeds，deftlyputtingthebrokenknifeundertheirrootsandpoppingthemintothetinpan。Presently，forDeaconBaxterhadfinishedthewagonandgonedownthehilltorelieveCephasColeatthecounter，Patty’sshrillyoungwhistlefloatedintothekitchen，butwithamischievousglanceattheopenwindowshebrokeoffsuddenlyandbegantosingthewordsofthehymnwithrathermoreemphasisandgustothanstrictpietywarranted。
　　"There’llbeSOMEthinginheav—enforchil—drentodo，Noneareidleinthatbless—edland：
　　There’llbeWORKfortheheart。There’llbeWORKforthemind，AndemPLOYmentforEACHlittlehand。
　　"There’llbeSOME—thingtodo，There’llbeSOME—thingtodo，There’llbeSOME—thingforCHIL—drentodo！
　　Onthatbrightblessedshorewherethere’sjoyevermore，There’llbeSOME—thingforCHIL—DRENtodo。"
　　Patty’syoungexistencebeingfulltothebrimoflabor，thisviewofheavenneverintheleastappealedtoherandsherenderedthehymnwithlittlesympathy。Themainpartoftheversewasstronglyaccentedbyjabsattheunoffendingdandelionroots，butwhenthechoruscameshebroughtouttheemphaticsyllablesbyabeatofthebrokenknifeonthemilkpan。
　　ThisrenditionofaSabbath—SchoolclassicdidnotmeetWaitstill’sideasofperfectpropriety，butshesmiledandletitpass，planningsomesortofrecreationforastolenhalf—houroftheafternoon。Itwouldhavetobeawalkthroughthepastureintothewoodstoseewhathadgrownsincetheywentthereafortnightago。PattylovedpeoplebetterthanNature，butfailingtheoneshecouldputupwiththeother，forshehadasenseofbeautyandapaganloveofcolor。Therewouldbepale—huedinnocenceandblueandwhitevioletsinthemoistplaces，thoughtWaitstill，andtheywouldhavetheminachinacuponthesupper—table。No，thatwouldneverdo，forlasttimefatherhadknockedthemoverwhenhewasreachingforthebread，andinasilentprotestagainstsuchfoolishnessgotupfromthetableandemptiedtheirsintothekitchensink。
　　"There’saplaceforeverything，"hesaidwhenhecameback，"andtheplaceforflowersisoutdoors。"
　　Theninthepinewoodstherewouldbe，shewassure，StarofBethlehem，Solomon’sSeal，thewhitesprayofgroundnutsandbunchberries。PerhapstheycouldmakeabouquetandPattywouldtakeitacrossthefieldstoMrs。Boynton’sdoor。Sheneednotgoin，andthustheywouldnotbedisobeyingtheirfather’scommandnottovisitthat"crazyBoyntonwoman。"
　　HerePattycameinwithapanfullofgreensandthesisterssatdowninthesunnywindowtogetthemreadyforthepot。
　　"I’mcalmer，"thelittlerebelallowed。"That’sgenerallythewayitturnsoutwithme。Igetintoarage，butIcangenerallysingitoff！"
　　"Youcertainlymusthavegotridofagooddealoftemperthismorning，bythewayyourvoicesounded。"
　　"Nobodycanhearusinthisout—of—the—wayplace。It’seasyenoughtoseethatthewomenweren’taskedtosayanythingwhenthemensettledwherethehousesshouldbebuilt！Themenweren’tcontenttostickthemonthetopofahighhill，orhalfamilefromthestores，butputthembacktothemainroad，takingduecaretocutthesink—windowwheretheirwivescouldn’tseeanythingevenwhentheywerewashingdishes。"
　　"Idon’tknowthatIeverthoughtaboutitinthatway"；andWaitstilllookedoutofthewindowinabrownstudywhileherhandsworkedwiththedandeliongreens。"I’venoticedit，butI
　　neversupposedthemendiditintentionally。"
　　"No，youwouldn’t，"saidPattywiththepessimismofawomanofninety，asshestoleanadmiringglanceathersister。Patty’sownface，irregular，piquant，tantalizing，haditspeculiarcharm，andherbrilliantskinandhairsodazzledthemasculinebeholderthathetooknoteofnosmalldefects；butWaitstillwasbeautiful；beautifuleveninherworkingdressofpurplecalico。
　　Hersinglebraidofhair，theFoxwellhair，thatinherwasbronzeandinPattypaleauburn，waswoundoncearoundherfineheadandmadetostandalittleasitwentacrossthefront。Itwasasimple，easy，unconsciousfashionofherown，quitedifferentfromanythingdonebyotherwomeninhertimeandplace，anditjustsuitedherdignityandserenity。Itlookedlikeacoronet，butitwasthewayshecarriedherheadthatgaveyouthefancy，therewassuchspiritandprideinthepoiseofitonthelonggracefulneck。Hereyeswereasclearasmountainpoolsshadedbyrushes，andthestrengthofthefacewassoftenedbythesweetnessofthemouth。
　　Pattyneverlettheconversationdieoutformanysecondsatatimeandnowshebeganagain。"Mysuddenragesdon’tmatchmynameverywell，but，ofcourse，motherdidn’tknowhowIwasgoingtoturnoutwhenshecalledmePatience，forIwasnothingbutasquirminglittlebald，redbaby；butmynamereallyistooridiculouswhenyouthinkaboutit。"
　　Waitstilllaughedasshesaid："Itdidn’ttakeyoulongtochangeit！PerhapsPatiencewasahardwordforababytosay，butthemomentyoucouldtalkyousaid，’Pattywantsthis’and’Pattywantsthat。"’
　　"DidPattyevergetit？Sheneverhassince，that’scertain！Andlookatyourname：it’s’Waitstill，’yetyouneverstopamoment。
　　Whenyou’renotintheshedorbarn，orchicken—house，orkitchenorattic，orgarden—patch，youareworkingintheSundaySchoolorthechoir。"
　　ItseemedasifWaitstilldidnotintendtoanswerthisarraignmentofheractivities。Sheroseandcrossedtheroomtoputthepanofgreensinthesink，preparingtowashthem。
　　Takingthelong—handleddipperfromthenail，shepausedamomentbeforeplungingitintothewaterpail；paused，andleaningherelbowonacorneroftheshelfoverthesink，lookedsteadfastlyoutintotheorchard。
　　PattywatchedhercuriouslyandwasjustgoingtoofferapennyforherthoughtswhenWaitstillsuddenlybrokethebriefsilencebysaying："Yes，Iamalwaysbusy；it’sbetterso，butallthesame，Patty，I’mwaiting，——inside！Idon’tknowforwhat，butI
　　alwaysfeelthatIamwaiting！"
　　VI
　　AKISS
　　"SHALLwehaveourwalkinthewoodsontheEdgewoodsideoftheriver，justforachange，Patty？"suggestedhersister。"Thewaterissohighthisyearthattheriverwillbesplendid。Wecangatherourflowersinthehillpastureandthenyou’llbequitenearMrs。Boynton’sandcancarrythenosegaytherewhileI
　　comehomeaheadofyouandgetsupper。I’lltaketo—day’seggstofather’sstoreonthewayandaskhimifhemindsourhavingalittlewalk。I’veanerrandatAuntAbby’sthatwouldtakemedowntothebridgeanyway。"
　　"Verywell，"saidPatty，somewhatapathetically。"Ialwayslikeawalkwithyou，butIdon’tcarewhatbecomesofmethisafternoonifIcan’tgotoEllen’sparty。"
　　TheexcursiontookplaceaccordingtoWaitstill’splan，andatfouro’clockshespedbacktohernightworkandpreparationsforsupper，leavingPattywithagreatbunchofearlywildflowersforIvory’smother。PattyhadleftthemattheBoyntons’doorwithRodman，whowaspickingupchipsandvolunteeredtotakethenosegayintothehouseatonce。
　　"Won’tyoustepinside？"theboyaskedshyly，wishingtobepolite，butconsciousthatvisitors，fromthevillageveryseldomcrossedthethreshold。
　　"I’dliketo，butIcan’tthisafternoon，thankyou。Imustrunallthewaydownthehillnow，orIshan’tbeintimetosupper。"
　　"Doyoueatmealstogetherovertoyourhouse？"askedtheboy。
　　"We’reallthreeatthetableifthatmeanstogether。"
　　"Weneverare。Ivorygoesoffearlyandtakeslunchinapail。SodoIwhenIgotoschool。AuntBoyntonneversitsdowntoeat；
　　shejuststandsatthewindowandtakesabiteofsomethingnow’andthen。Youhaven’tgotanymother，haveyou？"
　　"No，Rodman。"
　　"NeitherhaveI，noranyfather，noranyrelationsbutAuntBoyntonandIvory。Ivoryisverygoodtome，andwhenhe’sathomeI’mneverlonesome。"
　　"Iwishyoucouldcomeoverandeatwithsisterandme，"saidPattygently。"Perhapssometime，whenmyfatherisawaybuyinggoodsandweareleftalone，youcouldjoinusinthewoods，andwewouldhaveapicnic？Wewouldbringenoughforyou；allsortsofgoodthings；hard—boiledeggs，doughnuts，apple—turnovers，andbreadspreadwithjelly。"
　　"I’dlikeitfine！"exclaimedRodman，hisbigdarkeyessparklingwithanticipation。"Idon’thavemanyboystoplaywith，andI
　　neverwenttoapicnicAuntBoyntonwatchesforuncle’mostallthetime；shedoesn’tknowhehasbeenawayforyearsandyears。
　　Whenshedoesn’twatch，sheprays。Sometimesshewantsmetopraywithher，butprayingdon’tcomeeasytome。"
　　"Neitherdoesittome，"saidPatty。
　　"I’mgoodatmarblesandcheckersandback—gammonandjack—straws，though。"
　　"SoamI，"saidPatty，laughing，"soweshouldbegoodfriends。
　　I’lltrytogetachancetoseeyousoonagain，butperhapsI
　　can’t；I’magooddealtiedathome。"
　　"Yourfatherdoesn’tlikeyoutogoany—wheres，Iguess，"
　　interposedRodman。"I’veheardIvorytellAuntBoyntonthings，butIwouldn’trepeatthem。Ivory’strainedmeyearsandyearsnottotellanything，soIdon’t。"
　　"That’sagoodboy！"approvedPatty。Thenassheregardedhimmoreclosely，shecontinued，"I’msorryyou’relonesome，Rodman，I’dliketoseeyoulookbrighter。"
　　"YouthinkI’vebeencrying，"theboysaidshrewdly。"SoIhave，butnotbecauseI’vebeenpunished。ThereasonmyeyesaresoswollenupisbecauseIkilledouroldtoadbymistakethismorning。IwastryingtoseeifIcouldswingthescytheso’stohelpIvoryinhaying—time。I’veonly’rakedafter’andIwanttobeginonmowingsoon’sIcan。Thensomehoworothertheoldtoadcameoutfromunderthesteps；Ididn’tseehim，andthescythehithimsquare。Icriedforanhour，that’swhatIdid，andI
　　don’tcarewhoknowsitexceptIwouldn’tliketheboysatschooltohectorme。I’veburiedthetoadoutbehindthebarn，andI
　　hopeIvory’llletmekeepthenewsfromAuntBoynton。Shecriesenoughnowwithoutmytellingherthere’sbeenadeathinthefamily。Shesetgreatstorebytheoldtoad，andsodidallofus。"
　　"It’stoobad；I’msorry，butafterallyoucouldn’thelpit。"
　　"No，butweshouldalwayslookroundevery—whereswhenwe’recutting；that’swhatIvorysays。Hesaysfolksshouldn’tuseedgedtoolstillthey’reoldenoughnottofoolwith’em。"
　　AndRodmanlookedsowiseandold—fashionedforhisyearsthatPattydidnotknowwhethertokisshimorcryoverhim，asshesaid："Ivory’salwaysright，andnowgood—bye；Imustgothisveryminute。Don’tforgetthepicnic。"
　　"Iwon’t！"criedtheboy，gazingafterher，whollyentrancedwithherbrightbeautyandherkindness。"Say，I’llbringsomething，too，——white—oakacorns，ifyoulike’em；I’vegotabigbagfulupattic！"
　　Pattyspeddownthelonglane，creptunderthebars，andflewlikealapwingoverthehigh—road。
　　"Iffatherwasonlylikeanyoneelse，thingsmightbesodifferent！"shesighed，herthoughtsrunningalongwithherfeet。
　　"NobodytomakeahomeforthatpoorlonesomelittleboyandthatpoorlonesomebigIvory……IamsurethatheisinlovewithWaitstill。Hedoesn’tknowit；shedoesn’tknowit；nobodydoesbutme，butI’mcleveratguessing。IwastheonlyonethatsurmisedJedMorrillwasgoingtomarryagain……IshouldalmostlikeIvoryformyself，heissotallandhandsome，butofcoursehecannevermarryanybody；heistoopoorandhashismothertolookafter。Iwouldn’twanttotakehimfromWaity，though，andthenperhapsIcouldn’tgethim，anyway……IfI
　　couldn’t，he’dbetheonlyone！I’venevertriedyet，butIfeelinmybones，somehow，thatIcouldhaveanyboyinEdgewoodorRiverboro，byjustcrookingmyforefingerandbeckoningtohim……Iwish——Iwish——theyweredifferent！Theydon’tmakemewanttobeckontothem！Myforefingerjuststaysstraightanddoesn’tfeellikecrooking！……There’sCephasCole，buthe’sasstupidasanowl。Idon’twantahusbandthatkeepshismouthwideopenwheneverI’mtalking，nomatterwhetherit’ssenseornonsense。
　　There’sPhilPerry，buthelikesEllen，andbesideshe’stooseriousforme；andthere’sMarkWilson；he’sthebestdressed，andtheonlyonethat’sbeentocollege。Helooksatmeallthetimeinmeeting，andaskedmeifIwouldn’ttakeawalksomeSundayafternoon。IknowheplannedEllen’spartyhopingI’dbethere！——Goodnessgracious，Idobelievethatishishorsecomingbehindme！There’snootherinthevillagethatgoesatsuchagait！"
　　Itwas，indeed，MarkWilson，whoalwaysdrove，accordingtoAuntAbbyCole，"asifhewasgoin’foradoctor。"HecaughtupwithPattyalmostinthetwinklingofaneye，butshewasreadyforhim。Shehadtakenoffhersunbonnetjusttotwirlitbythestring，shewassowarmwithwalking，andinajiffyshehadliftedtheclusteringcurlsfromherears，tuckedthembackwithasingleexpertmovement，anddisclosedtwocoralpendantsjustthecolorofherear—tipsandherglowingcheeks。
　　"Hello，Patty！"theyoungmancalled，inbrusquecountryfashion，ashereinedupbesideher。"Whatareyoudoingoverhere？Whyaren’tyouonyourwaytotheparty？I’vebeenovertoLimingtonandambreakingmynecktogethomeintimemyself。"
　　"Iamnotgoing；therearenopartiesforme！"saidPattyplaintively。
　　"Notgoing！Oh！Isay，what’sthematter？Itwon’tbeabitoffunwithoutyou！EllenandImadeitupexpresslyforyou，thinkingyourfathercouldn’tobjecttoacandy—pull！"
　　"Ican’thelpit；IdidthebestIcould。Wait—stillalwaysasksfatherforme，butIwouldn’ttakeanychancesto—day，andI
　　spoketohimmyself；indeedIalmostcoaxedhim！"
　　"He’saregularoldskinflint！"criedMark，gettingoutofthewagonandwalkingbesideher。
　　"Youmustn’tcallhimnames，"Pattyinterposedwithsomedignity。
　　"Icallhimagoodmanymyself，butI’mhisdaughter。"
　　"Youdon’tlookit，"saidMarkadmiringly。"Comeandhavealittleride，Won’tyou？"
　　"Oh，Icouldn’tpossibly，thankyou。Someonewouldbesuretoseeus，andfather’ssostrict。"
　　"Thereisn’tabuildingforhalfamile！Justjumpinandhaveaspintillwecometothefirsthouse；thenI’llletyououtandyoucanwalktherestofthewayhome。Come，do，andmakeuptomealittleformydisappointment。I’llskipthecandy—pullifyousaytheword。"
　　Itwasanincrediblybriefdrive，atMark’srateofspeed；andasexcitingandblissfulasitwasbriefanddangerous，Pattythought。Didsheimagineit，ordidMarkhelpherintothewagondifferentlyfrom——oldDr。Perry，forinstance？
　　Thefreshbreezeliftedthegoldthreadofhercurlsandgavehercheeksabrightercolor，whileherbreathcamefastthroughherpartedlipsandhereyessparkledattheunexpected，unaccustomedpleasure。Shefeltsogrownup，soconsciousofanewpowerasshesatenthronedonthelittlewagonseat（MarkWilsonalwayslikedhisbuggies"courtin’size"sotheneighborssaid），thatshewasalmostcourageousenoughtoagreetomakearoyalprogressthroughthevillage；almost，butnotquite。
　　"Comeon，let’sshaketheoldtabbiesupandstart’emtalking，shallwe？"Marksuggested。"I’llgiveyouthereinsandletNerohaveaflickofthewhip。"
　　"No，I’drathernotdrive，"shesaid。"I’dbeafraidofthishorse，and，anyway，Imustgetoutthisveryminute；yes，I
　　reallymust。IfyouholdNeroIcanjustslipdownbetweenthewheels；youneedn’thelpme。"
　　Markalightednotwithstandingherobjections，sayinggallantly，"Idon’tmissthispleasure，notbyajugful！Comealong！Jump！"
　　Pattystretchedoutherhandstobehelped，butMarkforestalledherbyputtinghisarmsaroundherandliftingherdown。Asecondoftimeonlywasinvolved，butinthatsecondheheld；hercloseandkissedherwarmcheek，hercheekthathadneverfeltthetouchofanylipsbutthoseofWaitstill。Shepulledhersunbonnetoverherflamingface，whileMark，withagaysmileoffarewell，sprangintothewagonandgavehishorseafreerein。
　　Pattyneverlookedupfromtheroad，butwalkedfasterandfaster，herheartbeatingatbreakneckspeed。Itwasachangedworldthatspunpasther；fright，triumph，shame，delight，agratifiedvanityswamoverherinturn。
　　Afewminuteslatersheheardoncemoretherumbleofwheelsontheroad。ItwasCephasColedrivingtowardsheroverthebrowofSacoHill。"He’llhaveseenMark，"shethought，"buthecan’tknowI’vetalkedanddrivenwithhim。Ugh！howstupidandcommonhelooks！"
　　"Iheardyourfatherblowin’thesupper—hornjestasIcomeoverthebridge，"remarkedCephas，drawingupintheroad。"Hestoodinthedoor—yardblowin’likeBedlam。Iguessyou’relatetosupper。"
　　"I’llbehomeinafewminutes，"saidPatty，"Igotdelayedandamalittlebehindhand。"
　　"I’11turnrightroundifyou’11gitinandlemmetakeyouback—alongapiece；it’llsaveyouagoodfiveminutes，"beggedCephas，abjectly。
　　"Allright；muchobliged；butit’sagainsttherulesandyoumustdropmeatthefootofourhillandletmewalkup。"
　　"Certain；IknowtheDeacon’n’Iain’thuntin’fortroubleanymore’nyoube；thoughI’dtakeitquickenoughifyoujestgivemeleave！Iain’tnocowardan’IcouldtackletheDeaconto—morrowifsobeIhadanythingtoaskhim。"
　　ThisseemedtoPattyalineofconversationdistinctlytobediscouragedunderallthecircumstances，andshetriedtokeepCephasonthesubjectofhisdailytasksandhismother’srheumatismuntilshecouldescapefromhisover—appreciativesociety。
　　"Howdoyoulikemylastjob？"heinquiredastheypassedhisfather’shouse。"SomethinkI’vegottheellalittleditetooyaller。Folksthatain’tneverhandledabrushallersthinktheycanmixpaintbetter’nthemthatknowstheirtrade。"
　　"Ifyourobjectwastohaveeverybodyseetheellamileaway，you’vesucceeded，"saidPattycruelly。Sheneverflungthepoorboyacivilwordforfearofgettingsomethingwarmerthancivilityinreturn。
　　"It’lltonedown，"Cephasresponded，rathercrestfallen。"I
　　wantedagoodbrightlastin’shade。’Twon’tlooksoyallerwhenfatherletsmepaintthehousetomatch，butthatwon’tbetillnextyear。Hemakesfunoftheyallercolorsameasyou；saysahome’ssomethingyouwanttoforgetwhenyou’reawayfromit。
　　Mothersaysthetworoomsoftheellarebigenoughforsomebodytosetuphousekeepin’in。Whatdoyouthink？"
　　"Ineverthink，"returnedPattywithatantalizinglaugh。
　　"Good—night，Cephas；thankyouforgivingmealift！"
　　VII
　　"WHATDREAMSMAYCOME
　　SUPPERwasoverandtheworkdoneatlast；thedisheswashed，thebeansputinsoak，thehensshutupforthenight，themilkstrainedandcarrieddowncellar。PattywentuptoherlittleroomwiththeonewindowandtheslantingwallsandWaitstillfollowedandsaidgood—night。Herfatherputoutthelights，lockedthedoors，andcameupthecreakingstairs。Therewasneveranytalkbetweenthesistersbeforegoingtobed，saveonnightswhentheirfatherwaslateatthestore，usuallyonSaturdaysonly，forthegoodtalkersofthevillage，aswellasthegossipsandloafers，preferredanyotherplacetoswapstoriesthanthebleakatmosphereprovidedbyoldFoxyathisplaceofbusiness。
　　Pattycouldthinkinthedark；herhealthyyoungbodylyingnotuncomfortablyonthebedofcornhusks，andthepatchworkcomforterdrawnupunderherchin。Shecouldthink，butforthefirsttimeshecouldnottellherthoughtstoWaitstill。Shehadasecret；adazzlingsecret，justlikeEllenWilsonandsomeoftheothergirlswhowereseveralyearsolder。Herafternoon’sexperienceloomedaslargeinherinnocentmindasifithadbeenanelopement。
　　"IhopeI’mnotengagedtobemarriedtohim，EVENIFHEDID——"
　　Thesentencewastootremendoustobefinished，eveninthought。
　　"Idon’tthinkIcanbe；menmustsurelysaysomething，andnottakeitforgrantedyouareinlovewiththemandwanttomarrythem。ItiswhattheysaywhentheyaskthatIshouldlikemuchbetterthanbeingmarried，whenI’monlyjustpastseventeen。I