"ItlooksallrightonthecolumbinesintheIndianCellar，"
repliedPatty，turningandtwistingthehatonherhead。"Ifwecan’tgetapeekattheBostonfashions，wemustjustfindourstyleswherewecan！"
ThevariousroadstoToryHillwerealivewithvehiclesonthisbrightSundaymorning。UncleBartandAbelDay，withtheirrespectivewivesonthebackseatoftheCole’sdoublewagon，werepassedbyDeaconBaxterandhisdaughters，Waitstillbeingdueatmeetingearlierthanothersbyreasonofhersinginginthechoir。TheDeacon’sone—horse，two—wheeled"shay"couldholdthreepersons，withcomfortonitsbroadseat，andthetwenty—year—oldmare，althoughshewasalwaysashollowasagourd，couldgenerallydothemile，uphillalltheway，inhalfanhour，ifurgedcontinually，andtheDeacon，beitsaid，ifnotgoodatfeeding，wasunsurpassedaturging。
AuntAbbyColecouldgetonlyapassingglimpseofPattyinthedepthsofthe"shay，"butaglimpsewasalwaysenoughforher，asheropinionofthegirl’scharmswasconsiderablyaffectedbytheforlornconditionofhersonCephas，whomshesuspectedofbeinghopelesslyinlovewiththeyoungpersonaforesaid，towhomshecommonlyalludedas"thatred—headedbag—gage。"
"PatienceBaxter’sgotthekindoflooksthatmightdowellenoughatataverndance，orahusking，butthey’reentirelyunsuitedtotheSabbathdayorthemeetin’—house，"soAuntAbbyremarkedtoMrs。Dayinthewayofbackseatconfidence。"It’sunfortunatethatadeacon’sdaughtershouldbeafflictedwiththatboldstyleofbeauty！Herhair’sallbutred；infact，youmightaswellcallitred，whenthesunshinesonit：butifshe’deversmackitdownwithbear’sgreaseshemightdarkenitsome；oranyhowshe’dmakeitlayslicker；butit’sthekindofhairthatjustmatchesthatkindofagirl，——sortofupan’
comin’！Thenherskin’ssowhiteandhercheekssopinkandhereyessosnappythatshe’dattractattentionwithouthalftryingthoughIguesssheain’tabovemakin’aneffort。"
"She’sinnnocentasakitten，"observedMrs。Dayimpartially。
"Oh，yes，she’sinnocentenoughan’Ihopeshe’llkeepso！
Waitstill’sasighthan’somer，ifthetruthwastold；butshe’sthesortofgirlthat’smadeforonemanandtherestofemneverlookather。Theotherone’scutoutforthecrowd，themorethemerrier。She’sakindofman—trap，thatgirlis！——Dourgethehorsealittlemite，Bartholomew！Itmakesmekindo’hottobepassedbyDeaconBaxter。It’sMissionarySunday，too，whenhegen’allyhasrheumatismtoobadtocomeout。"
"Iwonderifheeverputsanythingintotheplate，"saidMrs。
Day。"Nooneeversawhim，thatIknowof。"
"TheDeaconkeepstheThouShaltNotcommandmentsprettywell，"
wasAuntAbby’sterseresponse。"Iguesshedon’tputnothin’
intotheplate，butIs’posewe’doughttobethankfulhedon’ttakenothin’out。TheBaptistsaregettin’aheadfasterthanthey’doughtto，uptotheMills。Ourministerain’tnokindofaproselyter，Seemsasifhedidn’tcarehowfolksgottoheavensolongastheygotthere！Theotherchurchishavin’aservicethisafternoonsideo’theriver，an’I’dkindo’liketogo，exceptitwouldplease’emtoomuchtohaveacrowdtheretoseetheimmersion。Theytellme，butIdon’tknowhowtrue，thatthatTillmanwidderwomanthatcomeherefromsomewheresinVermontwantedtobebaptizedto—day，buttheotherconvertsdeclaredTHEYwouldn’tbe，ifshewas！"
"JedMorrillsaidthey’dhavetoholdherunderwaterquiteaspelltodoanygood，"chuckledUncleBartfromthefrontseat。
"Well，Iwouldn’trepeatit，Bartholomew，ontheSabbathday；notifhedidsayit。JedMorrill’sresponsibleformoreblasphemiousjokesthananymaninEdgewood。Idon’tapproveofmakin’lightofanybody’sreligiousobservancesifthey’reeversofoolish，"
saidAuntAbbysomewhatenigmatically。"Ourministerkeepsremindin’usthattheBaptistsandMethodistsareourbrethren，butIwishhe’dbealittlemoreanxioustohaveourS’ceitykeepaheadoftheothers。"
"Jed’s’boutrightinsizin’uptheWidderTillman，"wasMr。
Day’stimidcontributiontotheargument。"Iain’tareadin’man，butfromwhatfolksreportIshouldthinkshewasoneo’themcrittersthatsetonrocksbewilderin’an’bedevilin’men—folksouto’theirsenses——SYREENS，Ithinktheycall’em；areg’larSYREENiswhatthatwomanis，Iguess！"
"There，there，Abel，youwouldn’tknowasyreenifyoufoundoneinyourbakedbeans，sodon’ttakeawayawoman’scharacteronhearsay。"AndMrs。Day，havingshutupherhusbandaswasherboundendutyasawifeandaChristian，tiedherbonnetstringsalittletighterandlookeddistinctlypleasedwithherself。
"Abelain’tstartin’anynewgossip，"wasAuntAbby’sopinion，asshesprungtohisrescue。"Oneortwomoreholesinacolanderdon’tmakemuchdif’rence。——Bartholomew，we’recertainlygoin’tobelatethismornin’；we’reaboutthelastteamontheroad"；andAuntAbbyglancednervouslybehind。"ElderBooneain’tbeguntheopenin’prayer，though，orweshouldknowit。Youcanhearhimprayamileaway，whenthewind’sright。Idohatetobelatetomeetin’。TheElderallerstakesnotice；thefolksinthewingpewsallersgapesan’stares，andthechoirpeeksthroughthecurtain，takin’notesofeverythingyou’vegotonyourback。I
hopetothelandthey’llchordandkeeptogetheralittlemitebetter’nthey’vedonelately，that’sallIcansay！IftheLordisrightinourmidstastheBiblesays，Hecan’tthinkmuchofoursingersthissummer！"
"They’reimprovin’，nowthatPlinyWaterhouseplayshisfiddle，"
Mrs。Dayremarkedpacifically。"Therewastimesintheanthemwhentheykepttogetherconsid’ablewelllastSunday。Theydidn’talwayschord，butthere，theychordedsome！——we’remosttherenow，Abby，don’tfret！Cephaswon’tringthelastbelltillheknowshisownfolksiscrossin’theCommon！"
Thoseweredaysofconscientiouschurch—goingandeverypewinthehousewascrowded。Thepulpitwasbuiltonpillarsthatraiseditsixfeethigherthanthefloor；thetopwascushionedandcoveredwithredvelvetsurmountedbyahugegilt—edgedBible。TherewasawindowinthetowerthroughwhichCephasColecouldlookintothechurch，andwhiletollingthebellcouldkeepwatchfortheminister。Alwaysexactlyontime，hewouldcomein，walkslowlyuptheright—handaisle，mountthepulpitstairs，enterandclosethedoorafterhim。ThenCephaswouldgiveonetremendouspulltowarnloiterersonthesteps；apullthatmeant，"Parson’sinthepulpit！"andwasacteduponaccordingly。
OpeningthebigBible，theministerraisedhisrighthandimpressively，andsaying，"Letuspray，"thewholecongregationroseintheirpewswithagreatrustlingandbowedtheirheadsdevoutlyfortheinvocation。
Nextcamethehymn，generallyatthatdayoneofIsaacWatts’s。
Thesingers，fifteenortwentyinnumber，satinaraisedgalleryoppositethepulpit，andtherewasarodinfronthungwithredcurtainstohidethemwhensittingdown。Anyonewasfreetojoin，whichperhapsaccountedforAuntAbby’sstricturesastotimeandtune。JedMorrill，"blasphemious"ashewasconsideredbythatacrimoniouslady，wastheleader，andagoodone，too。
TherewouldbeagreatwhisperingandbuzzingwhenDeaconSumnerwithhisbigfiddleandPlinyWaterhousewithhissmalleronewouldtrytogetinaccordwithHumphreyBakerandhisclarionet。
AllwentwellwhenHumphreywastheretogivethesurekey—note，butinhisabsenceJedMorrillwouldusehistuning—fork。Whenthekeywasfinallysecuredbyallconcerned，Jedwouldraisehisstick，beatonemeasuretosetthetime，andalljoinedin，orfellin，accordingtotheirseveralabilities。Itwasnotalwaysaperfectthinginthewayofastart，buttheywerewelltogetherattheendofthefirstline，andwhen，asnow，thechoirnumberedagoodlynumberofvoices，andtherewerethreeorfourhundredinthepews，nothingmoreinspiringinitspeculiarwaywaseverheard，thanthecongregationalsingingofsuchsplendidhymnsas"OldHundred，""DukeStreet，"or"Coronation。"
Waitstillledthetrebles，andIvorywasatthefarendofthechoirinthebasses，buteachwasconsciousoftheother’spresence。Thismorninghecouldhearhernoblevoicerisingalittleabove，or，perhapsfromitsquality，separatingitselfsomehow，eversolittle，fromtheothers。Howfullofstrengthandhopeitwas，hervoice！Howsteadfasttothepitch；howgoldenitscolor；howmovinginitscrescendos！Howthewordsflowedfromherlips；notasiftheyhadbeenwrittenyearsago，butasiftheyweretheexpressionofherownfaith。Thereweremanyinthecongregationwhowerestirred，theyknewnotwhy，whentherechancedtobeonlyafew"carryingtheair"andtheycouldreallyhearWaitstillBaxtersingingsomedearoldhymn，fullofsacredmemories，like：—
"WhileTheeIseek，protectingPower，Bemyvainwishesstilled！
AndmaythisconsecratedhourWithbetterhopesbefilled。"
"TheremaybetheminBostonthatcansinglouder，andtheymaybeabletorunupalittlehigherthanWaitstill，butthequestionis，couldanyof’emmakeAuntAbbyColeshedtears？"
ThiswasJedMorrill’stributetohisbestsoprano。
TherewereSundayeveningprayer—meetings，too，heldat"earlycandlelight，"whenWaitstillandLucyMorrillwouldmakeaduetof"BycoolSiloam’sShadyRill，"orthefavorite"Naomi，"andthetwofreshyoungvoices，risingandfallinginthetenderthirdsoftheoldtunes，meltedallheartstonewwillingnessofsacrifice。
"Father，whate’erofearthlyblissThysov’reignwilldenies，AcceptedatThyThroneofgraceLetthispetitionrise！
"Givemeacalm，athankfulheart，Fromeverymurmurfree！
TheblessingofThygraceimpartAndletmelivetoThee！"
HowIvorylovedtohearWaitstillsingtheselines！Howtheyeasedhisburdenastheywereeasinghers，fallingonhisimpatient，longingheartlikeeveningdewonthirstygrass！
XII
THEGREEN—EYEDMONSTER
"WHILETheeIseek，protectingPower，"wasthefirsthymnonthisparticularSundaymorning，anditusuallyheldPatty’srathervagrantattentiontotheend，thoughitfailedtodosoto—day。
TheBaxtersoccupiedoneofthewingpews，apositionalwaystobeenvied，asonecouldseethesingerswithoutturningaround，andalsoobserveeverybodyinthecongregation，——theirentrance，garments，behavior，andespeciallytheirbonnets，——withoutbeingintheleastindiscreet，orseemingtohavearovingeye。
LawyerWilson’spewwasthesecondinfrontoftheBaxtersinthesamewing，andPatty，seateddecorouslybutunwillinglybesideherfather，wasimpatientlyawaitingtheentranceofthefamily，knowingthatMarkwouldbewiththemifhehadreturnedfromBoston。TimothyGrant，theparishclerk，hadthepewinbetween，andaffordedamostedifyingspectacletothecommunity，asthereweresevenyoungGrantsofachurch—goingage，andtheladiesofthecongregationwerealwayscountingthem，reckoninghowmanymorewereintheircradlesathomeandtryingtoguessfromMrs。
Grant’slivelyorchastenedcountenancewhetheranynewoneshadbeenbornsincetheSundaybefore。
Pattysettledherselfcomfortably，andputherfootonthewooden"cricket，"raisingherbuffcalicoalittleonthecongregationside，justenoughtoshowaninchortwoofpetticoat。Thepetticoatwasasmodestlylongasthefrockitself，anddisclosingabitofitwasnothingmoreheinousthanacasualexhibitionofgoodneedlework。DeaconBaxterfurnishedonlytheunbleachedmuslinforhisdaughters’undergarments；buttwelvelittletuckslaboriouslydonebyhand，elaborateinch—wideedging，crochetedfromwhitespoolcotton，anddaysofbleachingonthegrassinthesun，willmakeapetticoatthatcanbeshowninchurchwithsomejustifiablepride。
TheWilsonscameuptheaisleamomentlaterthanwastheirusualhabit，justaftertheparsonhadascendedthepulpit。Mrs。Wilsonalwaysenteredthepewfirstandsatinthefarend。Pattyhadlookedatheradmiringly，andwithacertainfeelingofproprietorship，forseveralSundays。Therewasobviouslynosuchdesirablemother—in—lawinthemeeting—house。Herchangeablesilkdresswasthelatestmode；hershawlofblackllamalaceexpressedwealthineverydelicatemesh，andherbonnethadadistinctionthatcouldonlyhaveemanatedfromPortlandorBoston。EllenWilsonusuallycameinnext，withasmuchofasmiletoPattyinpassingasshedaredventureintheDeacon’spresence，andafterhersidledinheryoungersisterSelina，commonlycalled"Silly，"andwithconsiderablereason。
Markhadcomehome！Pattydarednotlookup，butshefelthisapproachbehindtheothers，althoughhereyessoughtthefloor，andhercheekshungoutsignalsofabashedbutcertainwelcome。
Sheheardthefamilysettleintheirseatssomewhathastily，theclickofthepewdoorandthesoundofLawyerWilson’scaneashestooditinthecorner；thentheparsonrosetoprayandPattyclosedhereyeswiththerestofthecongregation。
OpeningthemwhenElderBoonerosetoannouncethehymn，theyfell——amazed，resentful，uncomprehending——onthespectacleofMarkWilsonfindingtheplaceinthebookforastrangeyoungwomanwhosatbesidehim。MarkhimselfhadonanewsuitandworeasealringthatPattyhadneverobservedbefore；whilethedress，pelisse，andhatoftheunknownwereofanaturethatnogirlinPatty’sposition，andparticularlyofPatty’sdisposition，couldhaveregardedwithoutadesiretotearthemfromherpersonandstampthemunderfoot；orbetterstill，flauntthemherselfandshowtheworldhowtheyshouldbeworn！
Markfoundtheplaceinthehymn—bookforthe——creature，shareditwithher，andonce，whentheGranttwinswriggledandPattysecuredabetterview，once，Markshiftedhishandonthepagesothathisthumbtouchedthatofhisprettyneighbor，whodidnotremovehersasifshefoundtheproximityeitherunpleasantorimproper。Pattycomparedherownmiserableattirewiththatofthehatedrivalinfront，andalsocontrastedLawyerWilson’sappearancewiththatofherfather；theformer，welldressedinthestyleofagentlemanofthetime，inbroadcloth，withfinelinen，andatallsilkhatcarefullyplacedonthefloorofthepew；whileDeaconBaxterworehomespunmadeofwoolfromhisownsheep，spunandwoven，dyedandfinished，atthefulling—millinthevillage，andcarriedabatteredfelthatthathadbeenamatterofridiculethesedozenyears。（TheDeaconwouldbeburiedintwocoats，JedMorrillalwayssaid，forheownedjustthatnumber，andwouldbetoomeantoleaveeitherof’embehindhim！）
Thesermonwasfiftyminuteslong，timeenoughforadealofthinking。Manyahousewife，notwhollyorthodox，cutandmadeoverallherchildren’sclothes，inimagination；plannedtheputtingupofherfruit，themakingofherpreservesandpickles，andarrangedhermealsforthenextweek，duringtheprogressofthosesermons。Pattywatchedtheparsonturnleafafterleafuntilthefinalonewasreached。Thencamethelasthymn，whenthepeoplestretchedtheirachinglimbs，andrising，turnedtheirbacksontheministerandfacedthechoir。PattylookedatWaitstillandwishedthatshecouldputherthrobbingheadonhersisterlyshoulderandcry，——mostlywithrage。Thebenedictionwassaid，andwiththefinal"Amen"thepewswereopenedandtheworshipperscrowdedintothenarrowaislesandmovedtowardsthedoors。
Patty’splanswereallmade。ShewasoutofherpewbeforetheWilsonscouldpossiblyleavetheirs，andinherprogressdowntheaislesecurelyannexedhergreatadmirer，oldDr。Perry，aswellashissonPhilip。Passingthesinging—seatsshepickedupthehumbleCephasandcarriedhimalonginherwake，chattingandtalkingwithherlittlepartywhileherfatherwasatthehorse—sheds，makingreadytogohomebetweenservicesaswashishabit，acoldbitebeingalwayssetoutonthekitchentableaccordingtohisorders。BymeansoftheseclevermanoeuvresPattymadeherselfthefocusofattentionwhentheWilsonpartycameoutonthesteps，andvouchsafedMarkonlyanonchalantnod，airilyflingingalittlegreetingwiththenod，——justa"Howd’yedo，Mark？DidyouhaveagoodtimeinBoston？"
PattyandWaitsill，withsomeofthegirlswhohadcomelongdistances，atetheirluncheoninashadyplaceunderthetreesbehindthemeeting—house，fortherewasanafternoonservicetocome，aservicewithanotherlongsermon。TheyseparatedafterthemodestmealtowalkabouttheCommonorstrayalongtheroadtotheAcademy，wheretherewasafineview。
TwoorthreetimesduringthesummerthesistersalwayswentquietlyandalonetotheBaxterburying—lot，wherethreegrassgrowngraveslaybesideoneanother，unmarkedsavebynarrowwoodenslabssoshortthattheinitialspaintedonthemwerealmosthiddenbythetuftsofclover。Thegirlshadbroughtrootsofpansiesandsweetalyssum，andwithaknifemadeholesintheearthandplantedthemhereandtheretomakethespotatriflelessforbidding。Theydidnotspeaktoeachotherduringthissacredlittleceremony；theirheartsweretoofullwhentheyrememberedafreshtheabsenceofheadstones，thelackofcare，intheplacewherethethreewomenlaywhohadministeredtotheirfather，bornehimchildren，andpatientlyenduredhisarbitraryandlovelessrule。EvenCleveFlanders’grave，——theEdgewoodshoemaker，wholaynext，——evenhisresting—placewasmarkedand，withatouchofsomeone’simaginationmarkedbytheoldman’sownlapstonetwenty—fivepoundsinweight，amonumentofhiswork—a—daylife。
Waitstillrosefromherfeet，brushingtheearthfromherhands，andPattydidthesame。Thechurchyardwasquiet，andtheywerealonewiththedead，mournedandunmourned，lovedandunloved。
"Iplantedoneortwopansiesonthefirstone’sgrave，"saidWaitstillsoberly。"Idon’tknowwhywe’veneverdoneitbefore。
Therearenochildrentotakenoticeofandrememberher；it’stheleastwecando，and，afterall，shebelongstothefamily。"
"Thereisnofamily，andthereneverwas！"suddenlycriedPatty。
"Oh！Waity，Waity，wearesoalone，youandI！We’veonlyeachotherinalltheworld，andI’mnottheleastbitofhelptoyou，asyouaretome！I’masilly，vain，conceited，ill—behavedthing，butIwillbebetter，Iwill！Youwon’tevergivemeup，willyou，Waity，evenifI’mnotlikeyou？Ihaven’tbeengoodlately！"
"Hush，Patty，hush！"AndWaitstillcamenearertohersisterwithamotherlytouchofherhand。"I’llnothaveyousaysuchthings；
youthatarethehelpfullestandthelovingestgirlthateverwas，andthecleverest，too，andtheliveliest，andthebestcompany—keeper！"
"Noonethinkssobutyou！"Pattyrespondeddolefully，althoughshewipedhereyesasifabitconsoled。
ItissafetosaythatPattywouldneverhavegivenMarkWilsonasecondthoughthadhenottakenhertodriveonthatafternooninearlyMay。Thedrive，too，wouldhavequicklyfledfromhersomewhatficklememoryhaditnotbeenforthekiss。Thekisswas，indeed，adecisivefactorinthesituation，andhadshedarosy，ifsomewhatfictitiouslightofromanceoverthepastthreeweeks。Perhapseventhekiss，haditneverbeenrepeated，mighthavelapsedintoitstrueperspective，induecourseoftime，haditnotbeenforthesuddenappearanceofthestrangerintheWilsonpew。ThemomentthatPatty’sgazefelluponthatfashionablydressed，instantaneouslydislikedgirl，MarquisWilson’sstockrosetwentypointsinthemarket。Sheceased，inajiffy，toweighandconsiderandcriticizetheyoungman，butregardedhimwithwhollyneweyes。Hisfigurewasbetterthanshehadrealized，hissmilemoreinteresting，hismannersmoreattractive，hiseyelasheslonger；inaword，hehadsuddenlygrowndesirable。Amonthagoshecouldhaveobserved，withidleandaliencuriosity，thespectacleofhisthumbdrawingnearertoanother（feminine）thumb，onthepageoftheWattsandSelectHymnbook；now，atthemorningservice，shehadwishednothingsomuchastoputMark’sthumbbackintohispocketwhereitbelonged，andslapthegirl’sthumbsmartlyandsoundlyasitdeserved。
TheignorantcauseofPatty’sdistresswasacertainAnnabelFranklin，thedaughterofacousinofMrs。Wilson’s。MarkhadstayedattheFranklinhouseduringhisthreeweeks’visitinBoston，wherehehadgoneonbusinessforhisfather。TheyoungpeoplehadnaturallyseenmuchofeachotherandMark’sinflammablefancyhadbeensokindledbyAnnabel’sdoll—likecharmsthathehadpersuadedhertoaccompanyhimtohishomeandgetatasteofcountrylifeinMaine。Suchisman，suchishumannature，andsuchislife，thatMarkhadnosoonergotthewhilomobjectofhisaffectionsunderhisownroofthanshebegantopall。
Annabelwastwenty—three，andtotellthetruthshehadpalledbefore，morethanonce。Shewassoamiable，sowell—finished，——withhersmoothflaxenhair，herneatnose，herbuttonholeofamouth，andhertrimshape，——thatsheappealedtotheoppositesexquitegenerallyandirresistiblyasaworthyhelpmate。Theonlytroublewasthatshebegantoborehersuitorssomewhattooearlyinthegame，andtheynevergotfarenoughtoproposemarriage。Flawsinherapparentperfectionappearedfromdaytodayandchilledthegrowthofthevariousyounglovesthathadbuddedsoauspiciously。Shealwaysagreedwitheverybodyandeverythinginsight，eventothepointofchanginghermindontheinstant，ifcircumstancesseemedtomakeitadvisable。Herinstinctivepointofview，whenshewentsofarastoholdone，wassomewhatcutanddried；inaword，priggish。Shekeptayoungmanstrictlyonhisgoodbehavior，thatmuchcouldbesaidinherfavor；theonlycriticismthatcouldbemadeonthisestimabletraitwasthatnoboldyouthwasevertemptedtooversteptheboundsofdiscretionwheninherpresence。Nounrulywordsofloveeverrosetohislips；hishandneverstoleoutinvoluntarilyandimprudentlytomeethersmallchillyone；thesightofherwaistneverevensuggestedanencirclingarm；andasafellowneverdesiredtokissher，shewasneverobligedtowarnorrebukeorstrikehimoffhervisitinglist。HerfatherhadanamplefortuneandsomeonewouldinevitablyturnupwhowouldregardAnnabelasanaltogetherworthyanddesirablespouse。ThatwaswhatshehadseemedtoMarkWilsonforafullweekbeforehelefttheFranklinhouseinBoston，butthereweremomentsnowwhenheregretted，fugitively，thathehadeverremovedherfromherpropersphere。ShedidnotseemtofitintotheconditionsoflifeinEdgewood，anditmayevenbethathermostglaringfaulthadbeentodescribePattyBaxter’shairatthisverySundaydinneras"carroty，"herdressaltogether"dreadful，"andherstyleofbeauty"unladylike。"EllenWilson’sfeelingsweresomewhatinjuredbythesecriticismsofherintimatefriend，andindiscussingthematterprivatelywithherbrotherhewasinclinedtoagreewithher。
Andthus，solittledoweknowoftheprankishnessoftheblindgod，thuswasAnnabelFranklinworkingforherrival’sbestinterests；andinsteadofrevilingherinsecret，andtreatingherwithdisdaininpublic，PattyshouldhavewelcomedhercordiallytoallthedelightsofRiverborosociety。
XIII
HAYING—TIME
EVERYBODYinRiverboro，Edgewood，Milliken’sMills，SpruceSwamp，DuckPond，andModerationwas"haying。"Therewasaperfectfrenzyofhaying，foritwastheMondayafterthe"Fourth，"theprecisedateinJulywhentheMainefarmersaidgood—byetorepose，and"hayed"desperatelyandunceasingly，untileveryspearofgreeninhissectionwasmoweddownandsafelyundercover。Ifamanhadgrassofhisown，hecutit，andifhehadnone，heassistedincuttingthatofsomeotherman，for"tohay，"althoughanunconventionalverb，was，andstillis，averyactiveone，andincommoncirculation，althoughnotusedbythegrammarians。
Whateveryourtrade，andwhateveryourprofession，itcountedasnaughtingoodweather。Thefish—manstoppedsellingfish，themeat—manceasedtobringmeat；thecobbler，aswellasthejudge，forsookthebench；andeventhedoctormadefewervisitsthanusual。Thewageforworkinthehay—fieldswasahighone，andeveryman，boy，andhorseinavillagewaspressedintoservice。
WhenIvoryBoyntonhadfinishedwithhisownsmallcrop，hecommonlywentatoncetoLawyerWilson，whohadthelargestacreageofhay—landinthetownship。Ivorywasalwaysingreatdemand，forhewasamightyworkerinthefield，andaverygiantat"pitching，"beingabletopickupafair—sizedhay—cockatonestrokeoftheforkandflingitontothecartasifitwereafeather。LawyerWilsonalwaystookahandhimselfifsignsofrainappeared，andMarkoccasionallyvisitedthesceneofactionwhenacrowdinthefieldmadeageneraljollification，orwhentherewasanimpendingthunderstorm。Insuchcasesevenwomenandgirlsjoinedtheworkersandallhandsbenttogethertothetaskofgettingaloadintothebarnandcoveringtherest。
DeaconBaxterwaswonttocallMarkWilsona"worthless，whey—faced，lily—handedwhelp，"butthedescription，thoughpicturesque，wasdecidedlyexaggerated。Markdislikedmanuallabor，buthavingimbibedenoughknowledgeoflawinhisfather’sofficetobeanexcellentclerk，hemuchpreferredtravellingabout，settlingthedetailsofsmallcases，collectingrentsandbadbills，toanyformofworkonafarm。Thissortoflife，onstage—coachesandrailwaytrains，oronlongdrivingtripswithhisownfasttrotter，suitedhisadventurousdispositionandgavehimasenseofimportancethatwasverynecessarytohispeaceofmind。HewasnotespeciallyintimatewithIvoryBoynton，whostudiedlawwithhisfatherduringallvacationsandineveryavailablehourofleisureduringtermtime，asdidmanyanotheryoungNewEnglandschoolmaster。Mark’sfather’spraiseofIvory’slegalabilitywasalittletoowarmtopleasehisson，aswasthecommendationofoneoftheCountyCourtjudgesonIvory’spreparationofabriefinacertaincaseintheWilsonoffice。