IvoryhaddrawnitupatMr。Wilson’srequest，merelytoshowhowfarheunderstoodthebooksandcaseshewasstudying，andhehadnoideathatitdifferedinanywayfromtheworkofanyotherstudent；allthesame，Mark’sowneffortsinalikedirectionhadneverreceivedanyspecialmention。Whenhewasinthehay—fieldhealsokeptasfaraspossiblefromIvory，becausethere，too，hefeltasuperioritythatmadehim，forthemoment，atriflediscontented。ItwasnoparticularpleasureforhimtoseeIvoryplungehisforkdeepintotheheartofahay—cock，takeafirmgraspofthehandle，thrustforwardhisfoottosteadyhimself，andthenraisethegreatfragrantheapslowly，andswingituptothewaitinghaycartamidtheapplauseofthecrowd。Rodmanwouldbethere，too，helpingthemanontopoftheloadandgettingnearlyburiedeachtime，asthemassdescendeduponhim，butdoinghisslenderbesttodistributeandtreaditdownproperly，whilehisyoungheartglowedwithprideatCousinIvory’sprowess。
IndependenceDayhadpassed，withitsusualgayetiesfortheyoungpeople，innoneofwhichtheBaxterfamilyhadjoined，andnow，ateleveno’clockonthisburningJulymorning，WaitstillwasdrivingtheoldmarepasttheWilsonfarmonherwaytotheriverfield。Herfatherwasworkingthere，togetherwiththetwohiredmenwhomhetookonforafortnightduringtheheightoftheseason。Ifmowing，raking，pitching，andcartingofthepreciouscropcouldonlyhavebeendoneatoddtimesduringtheyear，oratnight，hewouldnothaveembitteredthemonthofJulybypayingoutmoneyforlabor：butNaturewasinexorableintheripeningofhayandOldFoxywasobligedtosuccumbtotheinevitable。Waitstillhadabasketpackedwithluncheonforthreeandagreatdemijohnofcoolgingerteaunderthewagonseat。
Otherfarmerssometimesservedhardcider，orrum，butherfather’sprinciplesweredeadagainstthisriotousextravagance。
Temperance，inanyandalldirections，wascheap，andtheDeaconwasaverytemperateman，saveinlanguage。
Thefieldsonbothsidesoftheroadwerefullofhaymakersandeverywheretherewasbustleandstir。Therewouldbethreeorfourmen，oneleading，theothersfollowing，slowlyswingingtheirwaythroughanoblepieceofgrass，andthesmellofthemownfieldsinthesunshinewassweeterthanhoneyinthecomb。
Therewerepatchesofblack—eyedSusansinthemeadowshereandthere，whilepinkandwhitehardhackgrewbytheroad，withdayliliesandblossomingmilkweed。Thebobolinkswereflutingfromeverytree；therewerethrushesinthealderbushesandoriolesinthetopsoftheelms，andWaitstill’sheartoverflowedwithjoyatbeinginsuchaworldofmidsummerbeauty，thoughlife，duringthegreatheatandincessantworkofhaying—time，wasalittlemorerigorousthanusual。Theextrafoodneededforthehiredmenalwayskeptherfatherinastateofmindcloselyresemblinginsanity。Comingdownstairstocookbreakfastshewouldfindthecoffeeorteameasuredoutforthepot。Theincreasedconsumptionofmilkangeredhimbeyondwords，becauseitlessenedthesupplyofbutterforsale。Everythingthatcouldbemadewithbuttermilkwasorderedsotobedone，andnothingbutwatercouldbeusedinmixingtheraisedbread。Thecorncakemustneverhaveanegg；thepiecrustmustbeshortenedonlywithlard，orwithamixtureofbeef—fatanddripping；andsoon，andsoon，eternally。
Whenthegirlswererespectivelyseventeenandthirteen，Waitstillhadbeggedasmallplotofgroundforthemtouseastheyliked，andbeginningatthattimetheyhadgraduallymadealittlegarden，withacoupleoffruittreesandathicketofred，white，andblackcurrantsraspberryandblackberrybushes。Forseveralsummersnowtheyhadsoldenoughoftheirownfruittobuyapairofshoesorgloves，ascarforahat，buteventhistinyincomewasbeginningtobemenaced。TheDeaconpositivelysufferedashelookedatthatoddcornerofearth，notanybiggerthanhisbarnfloor，andsawwhathisgirlshaddonewithnotoolsbutaspadeandahoeandnohelpbuttheirownhands。Hehadnoleisure（sohegrowled）tocultivateandfertilizegroundforsmallfruits，andnomoneytopayamantodoit，yetherewasfoodgrownunderhisveryeye，anditdidnotbelongtohim！
Thegirlsworkedintheirgardenchieflyatsunriseinspringandearlysummer，oraftersupperintheevening；allthesameWaitstillhadbeentoldbyherfatherthedaybeforethatshewasnotonlyusingground，buttime，thatbelongedtohim，andthatheshouldexpecthertoprovide"pie—filling"outofhergardenpatchduringhaying，tohelpsatisfytheravenousappetitesofthatcoupleof"great，gorming，greedylubbers"thathewashiringthisyear。Hehadstoppedthepeelingofpotatoesbeforeboilingbecausehedisapprovedofthethicknessoftheparingshefoundinthepig’spail，andhestoodoverPattyatherworkinthekitchenuntilWaitstillwasindailyfearofatempestofsomesort。
CominginfromtheshedonemorningshemetherfatherjustissuingfromthekitchenwherePattywasstandinglikeayoungFuryinfrontofthesink。"Father’sbeenspyingattheeggshellsIsettledthecoffeewith，andsaidI’dnobusinesstoleavesomuchgoodintheshellwhenIbrokeanegg。Iwillnotbearit；
hemakesmefeelfairlymurderous！You’dbetternotleavemealonewithhimwhenI’mlikethis。Oh！IknowthatI’mwicked，butisn’thewickedtoo，andwhowaswickedfirst？"
Patty’shearthadbeensetonearningandsavingenoughpenniesforawhitemuslindressandeverydayrenderedtheprospectmoreuncertain；thiswasasufficientgrievanceinitselftokeephertemperattheboilingpointhadtherenotbeenvariousothercontributorycauses。Waitstill’spatiencewasflaggingatrifle，too，underthestressofthehotdaysandthestillhotter，breathlessnights。Thesuspicioncrossedhermindnowandthenthatherfather’smiserlinessandfitsoftempermightbecausedbyamentalmaladyoverwhichhenowhadlittleornocontrol，havingnevermasteredhimselfinallhislife。Herpowerofendurancewouldbegreater，shethought，ifonlyshecouldbecertainthatthistheorywastrue，thoughherslaverywouldbejustasgalling。
Itwouldbesoeasyforhertogoawayandearnaliving；shewhohadneverhadadayofillnessinherlife；shewhocouldsew，knit，spin，weave，andcook。ShecouldmakeenoughmoneyinBiddefordorPortsmouthtosupportherself，andPatty，too，untiltheproperworkwasfoundforboth。Buttherewouldbeatrulyterribleconflictofwills，andsuchfiercearraignmentofherunfilialconduct，suchbitterandcausticargumentfromherfather，suchdisapprovalfromtheparsonandtheneighbors，thatherverysoulshrankfromtheprospect。Ifshecouldgoalone，andhavenoresponsibilityoverPatty’sfuture，thatwouldbealittlemorepossible，butshemustthinkwiselyfortwo。
AndhowcouldsheleaveIvorywhentheremightperhapscomeacrisisinhislifewhereshecouldbeusefultohim？HowcouldshecutherselfofffromthoseSundaysinthechoir，thosedearfugitiveglimpsesofhimintheroadoratprayer—meeting？Theywereonlysipsofhappiness，whereherthirstyheartyearnedforlong，deepdraughts，buttheywereimmeasurablybetterthannothing。Freedomfromherfather’sheavyyoke，freedomtowork，andread，andsing，andstudy，andgrow，——oh！howshelongedforthis，butatwhatacostwouldshegainitifshehadtoharbortheguiltyconscienceofanundutifulandrebelliousdaughter，andatthesametimecutherselfofffromthesightoftheonebeingshelovedbestinalltheworld。
ShefeltdrawntowardsIvory’smotherto—day。ThreeweekshadpassedsincehertalkwithIvoryinthechurchyard，buttherehadbeennopossibilityofanhour’sescapefromhome。Shewasatlibertythisafternoon——relativelyatliberty；foralthoughherwork，asusual，waslaidoutforher，itcouldbemadeupsomehoworotherbeforenightfall。ShecoulddriveovertotheBoynton’splace，hitchherhorseinthewoodsnearthehouse，makehervisit，yetbeinplentyoftimetogouptotheriverfieldandbringherfatherhometosupper。PattywasoveratMrs。AbelDay’s，learninganewcrochetstitchandhelpinghertostartalog—cabinquilt。IvoryandRodman，shenew，werebothawayintheWilsonhay—field；notimewouldeverbemorefavorable；soinsteadofdrivingupTown—HouseHillwhenshereturnedtothevillageshekeptonoverthebridge。
XIV
UNCLEBARTDISCOURSES
UNCLEBARTandCephasweretakingtheirnooninghourundertheNodheadappletreeasWaitstillpassedthejoiner’sshopandwentoverthebridge。
"UncleBartmightsomehowguesswhereIamgoing，"shethought，"butevenifhedidhewouldnevertellanyone。"
"Where’sWaitstillboundthisafternoon，Iwonder？"drawledCephas，risingtohisfeetandlookingafterthedepartingteam。
"Thatremindsme，I’dbetterrunuptoBaxter’sandseeifany—thing’swantedbeforeIopenthestore。"
"Ifitmakesanydif’rence，"saidhisfatherdryly，ashefilledhispipe，"Patty’sovertoMis’Day’sspendin’theafternoon。
Don’ts’poseyouwanttocallonthepig，doyou？He’stheonlyonetohome。"
Cephasmadenoremark，butgavehistrousersahitch，pickedupachip，openedhisjack—knife，andsittingdownonthegreenswardbeganidlywhittlingthebitofwoodintoshape。
"Ikindo’wishyou’dletmemakethenewelltwo—story，father；
’twouldn’tbemuchwork，takeitinslacktimeafterhayin’。"
"Lando’Liberty！Whatdoyouwanttodothatfor，Cephas？You’boutpesteredthelifeouto’megittin’metobuildtheellinthefirstplace，whenwedidn’tneeditnomore’natoaddoesapocketbook。Thennothin’woulddobutyoumustpaintit，thoughI
shan’tbeabletohavethemainhousepaintedforanotheryear，sotheoldwinean’thenewbottlesidebysidelooksliketheOldDriver，an’makesusalaughin’—stocktothevillage；——andnowyouwanttochangethethingintoatwo—story！Neverheerdsuchacrazyideeinmylife。"
"Iwanttosettledown，"insistedCephasdoggedly。
"Well，settle；I’mwillin’！Itoldyouthat，aforeyoupaintedtheell。Ain’ttworooms，fourteenbyfourteen，enoughforyoutosettledownin？Iftheyain’t，Iguessyourmother’dgiveyouoneo’thechambersinthemainpart。"
"ShewouldifImarriedPhoebeDay，butIdon’twanttomarryPhoebe，"arguedCephas。"Andmother’sgoneandmadeasummerkitchenforherselfoutintheell，a’ready。Ibetyershe’llnevermoveoutifIshouldwanttomoveinona’sudden。"
"Itoldyouyouwastakin’thatriskwhenyoucutadoorthroughfromthemainpart，"saidhisfathergenially。"Ifyouhadn’tdonethat，yourmotherwould’a’hadtogoneroundoutsidetogitint’theellandmebbeshe’d’a’stayedtohomewhenitstormed，anyhow。Nowyourwife’11havehertroopin’inan’out，inan’
out，thewhole’durin’time。"
"Ionlycutthedoorthroughtopleaseso’tshe’dfavormygittin’married，butIguess’twon’tdonogood。Yousee，father，whatIwasthinkin’ofis，agirlwouldmebbejumpatatwo—story，four—roomedellwhenshewouldn’tlookatasmallerplace。"
"Pendsuponwhetherthegirl’sthejumpin’kindornot！Hadn’tyoubettergiteverythingfixedupwiththeoneyou’vepickedout，aforeyoutakeyourgoodsavin’sandgotobuildin’abiggerplaceforher？"
"I’veaskedheroncea’ready，"Cephasallowed，withaburningface。"Idon’ts’poseyouknowtheoneImean？"
"Nokindofanidee，"respondedhisfather，withaquizzicalwinkthatwaslostontheyoungman，ashiseyeswerefixeduponhiswhittling。"Doesshebelongtothevillage？"
"Iain’tgoin’toletfolksknowwhoI’vepickedouttillIgitalittlemiteforrarder，"respondedCephascraftily。"Say，father，it’sallrighttoaskagirltwice，ain’tit？
"Certainitis，myson。Ineverheerdtherewasanyspeciallimittothenumbero’timesyoucouldask’em，andtheirpowero’
sayin’’No’islikethemercyoftheLord；itendurethforever。
——Youwouldn’tconsiderawidder，Cephas？Awidder’dbeagoodcomp’ny—keeperforyourmother。"
"Ihain’tputmygoodsavin’sintoanelljesttomarryacomp’ny—keeperformother，"respondedCephashuffily。"Iwanttobenumberonewithmygirlandstartrightinontrainin’heruptosuitme。"
"Well，iftrainin’’syourobjectyou’dbettertakemyadvicean’
keepitdarkbeforemarriage，Cephas。It’sastonishin’howthefemalesectdespisesbein’trained；itdon’thardlyseemtobeintheirnaturetomakeanychangesin’emselvesaftertheyoncegitsstarted。"
"Howareyougoin’tolivewith’em，then？"Cephasinquired，lookingupwithinterestcoupledwithsomeincredulity。
"Letthemdothetrainingrespondedhisfather，peacefullypuffingoutthewordswithhispipebetweenhislips。"Someof’em’smildandgentleindiscipline，likeParsonBoone’swifeorMis’TimothyGrant，andothersisstrictandfirmlikeyourmotherandMis’AbelDay。Ifyouhappentogitthefirstkind，why，doastheytellyou，andthanktheLord’tain’tanyworse。
Ifyougitthesecondkind，jestlet’emputtheblindersonyouandtrotasstraightasyouknowhow，withoutshyingnorkickin’
overthetraces，norbolting’causethey’vegotcontrolo’thebitand’tain’tnousefightin’ag’in’theirsuperiorstrength。——Sofurasyoucanjudge，intheearlystageso’thegame，myson，——whichain’tveryfur，——whichkindhaveyoupickedout？"
Cephaswhittledonforsomemomentswithoutaword，butfinally，withasighdrawnfromtheverytoesofhisboots，herespondedgloomily，——
"She’sawfulspunky，thegirlis，anybodycanseethat；butshe’sayoungthing，andIthoughtbein’marriedwouldkindo’tameherdown！"
"Youcanseehowmuchmarriagehastamedyourmotherdown，"
observedUncleBartdispassionately；"howsomever，thoughyourmothercan’tbecalledtame，she’sgothergoodp’ints，forshe’salwaystobecountedon。Thegreatthinginlife，asItakeit，Cephas，istoknowexactlywhattoexpect。Yourmother’sgen’allycreditedwithanonsartintemper，butfolksdoeshergreatinjusticeinsothinkingforinalongexperienceI’veseldomcomeacrossatemperlessonsartinthanyourmother’s。Youknowexactlywheretofindhereverymornin’atsun—upandeverynightatsundown。Thereain’tnothin’youcandotoputherouto’
temper，causeshe’salloutaforehand。Youcanjestgoaboutyourreg’larbusiness’thoutanyfearofdisturbin’heranyfurtherthanshe’sdisturbeda’ready，whichisconsid’rable。Idon’tminditamitenowadays，though，afterfortyyearsofit。Itwouldkindo’gallmetokeepastiddywatchofafemale’sdispositiondaybyday，wonderin’whenshewasgoin’tohaveatantrum。A
tantrumonceayear’sanawfulupsettin’kindofathinginafamily，myson，butatantrumeverytwenty—fourhoursisjestparto’theday’swork。"Therewasamoment’ssilenceduringwhichUncleBartpuffedhispipeandCephaswhittled，afterwhichtheoldmancontinued："Then，ifyouhappentomarryatemperlikeyourmother’s，Cephas，lookwhatapow’fulworkeryougen’allyget！Lookatthewaytheysweepan’dustan’scruban’
clean！Watch’emwhentheygoatthedish—washin’，an’howtheywhacktherollin’—pin，an’maultheeggs，an’heavethewoodint’
thestove，an’slatthefliesouto’thehouse！Themildandgentleonesenough，willbesettin’inthekitchenrockerread—in’thealmanacwhenthereain’tnowoodinthekitchenbox，nodoughnutsinthecrock，nopiesontheswingshelfinthecellar，an’theyoungonesgoin’roundwithoutasecondshifttotheirbacks！"
Cephas’smindwasfarawayduringthisphilosophicaldissertationonthewaysofwomen。Hecouldseeonlyasunnyheadfairlyriotingwithcurls；apairofeyesthatheldhislikemagnets，althoughtheynevergavehimaglanceoflove；asmilethatlightedtheworldfarbetterthanthesun；adimpleintowhichhisheartfellheadlongwheneverhelookedatit！
"You’reright，father；’tain’tnousekickin’ag’in’em，"hesaidasherosetohisfeetpreparatorytoopeningtheBaxterstore。
"WhenIsaidthat’bouttrainin’upagirltosuitme，Ikindo’
forgottheoneI’vepickedout。I’mconsiderin’several，buttheoneIfavormost—well，Ibelieveshe’dfireupatthefirstsighto’trainingandthat’sthegospeltruth。"
"Considerin’several，beyou，Cephas？"laughedUncleBart。"Well，allIhopeis，thattheoneyoufavormost——thegirlyou’veaskedoncea’ready——isconsiderin’you！"
Cephaswenttothepump，andwettingalargehandkerchiefputitinthecrownofhisstrawhatandsaunteredoutintotheburningheatoftheopenroadbetweenhisfather’sshopandDeaconBaxter’sstore。
"Ishan’taskherthenexttimetillthishotspell’sover，"hethought，"andIwon’tdoitinthatdodgastedoldstoreag’in，neither；Iain’tsotongue—tiedoutdoorsan’Ikindo’thinkI’dbemoreinthesperitofitaftersundown，somenightaftersupper！"
XV
IVORY’SMOTHER
WAITSTILLfoundacoolandshadyplaceinwhichtohitchtheoldmare，looseninghercheck—reinandputtingasprigofalderinherheadstalltoassistherinbrushingofftheflies。
OnecouldreachtheBoyntonhouseonlybygoingupalonggrass—grownlanethatledfromthehigh—road。Itwasalonelyplace，andAaronBoyntonhadboughtitwhenhemovedfromSaco，simplybecausehesecureditataremarkablebargain，theownerhavinglosthiswifeandgonetoliveinMassachusetts。Ivorywouldhavesolditlongagohadcircumstancesbeendifferent，foritwasattoogreatadistancefromtheschoolhouseandfromLawyerWilson’sofficetobeatallconvenient，buthedreadedtoremovehismotherfromtheenvironmenttowhichshewasaccustomed，anddoubtedverymuchwhethershewouldbeabletocareforahousetowhichshehadnotbeenwontedbeforehermindbecameaffected。Hereinthissafe，secludedcorner，amidfamiliarandthoroughlyknownconditions，shemovedplacidlyaboutherdailytasks，performingthemwiththesamecareandprecisionthatshehadusedfromthebeginningofhermarriedlife。AlltheheavyworkwasdoneforherbyIvoryandRodman；
theboyinparticularbeingthefleetest—footed，themostwilling，andtheneatestofhelpers；washingdishes，sweepinganddusting，layingthetable，asdeftlyandquietlyasagirl。Mrs。
Boyntonmadeherownsimpledressesofgraycalicoinsummer，ordarklinsey—woolseyinwinterbythesamepatternthatshehadusedwhenshefirstcametoEdgewood：infacttherewerepositivelynoexternalchangesanywheretobeseen，tragicandterribleashadbeenthosethathadwroughthavocinhermind。
Waitstill’sheartbeatfasterasshenearedtheBoyntonhouse。
ShehadneversomuchasseenIvory’smotherforyears。Howwouldshebemet？Whowouldbegintheconversation，andwhatdirectionwouldittake？WhatifMrs。Boyntonshouldrefusetotalktoheratall？Shewalkedslowlyalongthelaneuntilshesawaslender，gray—cladfigurestoopingoveraflower—bedinfrontofthecottage。Thewomanraisedherheadwithafawn—likegesturethathadsomethinginitoftimidityratherthanfear，pickedsomeloosebitsofgreenfromtheground，and，quietlyturningherbackupontheoncomingstranger，disappearedthroughtheopenfrontdoor。
Therecouldbenoretreatonherownpartnow，thoughtWaitstill。
ShewishedforamomentthatshehadmadethisfirstvisitunderIvory’sprotection，butherideahadbeentogainMrs。Boynton’sconfidenceandhaveaquietfriendlytalk，suchaoneaswouldbeimpossibleinthepresenceofathirdperson。Approachingthesteps，shecalledthroughthedoorwayinherclearvoice："Ivoryaskedmetocomeandseeyouoneday，Mrs。Boynton。IamWaitstillBaxter，thelittlegirlonTownHouseHillthatyouusedtoknow。"
Mrs。Boyntoncamefromaninnerroomandstoodonthethreshold。
Thename"Waitstill"hadalwayshadacharmforherears，fromthetimeshefirstheardityearsago，untilitfellfromIvory’slipsthissummer；andagainitcaughtherfancy。
"’WAITSTILL！"’sherepeatedsoftly；"’WAITSTILL！’DoesIvoryknowyou？"
"We’veknowneachotherforeversolong；eversincewewenttothebrickschooltogetherwhenweweregirlandboy。AndwhenI
wasachildmystepmotherbroughtmeoverhereonceonanerrandandIvoryshowedmeahumming—bird’snestinthatlilacbushbythedoor。"
Mrs。Boyntonsmiled"Comeandlook！"shewhispered。"Thereisalwaysahumming—bird’snestinourlilac。Howdidyouremember？"
ThetwowomenapproachedthebushandMrs。Boyntoncarefullypartedtheleavestoshowthedaintymorselofahomethatchedwithsoftgray—greenandlinedwithdown。"Thebirdshaveflownnow，"shesaid。"Theywerelikelittlejewelswhentheydartedoffinthesunshine。"
Hervoicewasfaintandsweet，asifitcamefromfaraway，andhereyeslooked，notasiftheywereseeingyou，butseeingsomethingthroughyou。Herpalehairwasturnedbackfromherpalerface，wheretheveinsshowedlikebluerivers，andhersmilewasliketheflittingofamoonbeam。ShewasstandingveryclosetoWaitstill，closerthanshehadbeentoanywomanformanyyears，andshestudiedheralittle，wistfully，yetcourteously，asifherattentionwasattractedbysomethingfreshandwinning。Shelookedatthecolor，ebbingandflowinginthegirl’scheeks；atherbrowsandlashes；atherneck，aswhiteasswan’s—down；andfinallyputoutherhandwithasuddenimpulseandtouchedtheknotofwavybronzehairunderthebrimmedhat。
"Ihadadaughteronce，"shesaid。"Mysecondbabywasagirl，butshelivedonlyafewweeks。Ineedherverymuch，forIamagreatcaretoIvory。Heissonanddaughterboth，nowthatMr。
Boyntonisawayfromhome。——Youdidnotseeanyoneintheroadasyouturnedinfromthebars，Isuppose？"
"No，"answeredWaitstill，surprisedandconfused，"butIdidn’treallynotice；Iwasthinkingofacoolplaceformyhorsetostand。"
"Isitouthereinthesewarmafternoons，"Mrs。Boyntoncontinued，shadinghereyesandlookingacrossthefields，"becauseIcanseesofardownthelane。Ihavethesupper—tablesetformyhusbandalready，andthereisasurpriseforhim，asaucerofwildstrawberriesIpickedforhimthismorning。Ifhedoesnotcome，IalwaystakeawaytheplateandcupbeforeIvorygetshere；itseemstomakehimunhappy。"
"Hedoesn’tlikeitwhenyouaredisappointed，Isuppose，"
Waitstillventured。"Ihavebroughtmyknitting，Mrs。Boynton，sothatIneedn’tkeepyouidleifyouwishtowork。MayIsitdownafewminutes？AndhereisacottagecheeseforIvoryandRodman，andajarofplumsforyou，preservedfrommyowngarden。"
Mrs。Boynton’seyessearchedthefaceofthisvisitorfromaworldshehadalmostforgottenandfindingnothingbuttendernessthere，saidwithjustatraceofbewilderment："Thankyouyes，dositdown；myworkbasketisjustinsidethedoor。Takethatrocking—chair；Idon’thaveanotheroneoutherebecauseIhaveneverbeeninthehabitofseeingvisitors。"
"IhopeIamnotintruding，"stammeredWaitstill，seatingherselfandbeginningherknitting，toseeifitwouldlessenthesenseofstrainbetweenthem。
"Notatall。Ialwayslovedyoungandbeautifulpeople，andsodidmyhusband。Ifhecomeswhileyouarehere，donotgoaway，butsitwithhimwhileIgethissupper。IfElderCochraneshouldbewithhim，youwouldseetwowonderfulmen。TheywentawaytogethertodosomemissionaryworkinMaineandNewHampshireandperhapstheywillcomebacktogether。Idonotwelcomecallersbecausetheyalwaysasksomanydifficultquestions，butyouaredifferentandhaveaskedmenoneatall。"
"Ishouldnotthinkofaskingquestions，Mrs。Boynton。"
"NotthatIshouldmindansweringthem，"continuedIvory’smother，"exceptthatittiresmyheadverymuchtothink。YoumustnotimagineIamill；itisonlythatIhaveaverybadmemory，andwhenpeopleaskmetoremembersomething，ortogiveananswerquickly，itconfusesmethemore。EvennowIhaveforgottenwhyyoucame，andwhereyoulive；butIhavenotforgottenyourbeautifulname。"
"Ivorythoughtyoumightbelonely，andIwantedsomuchtoknowyouthatIcouldnotkeepawayanylonger，forIamlonelyandunhappytoo。Iamalwayswatchingandhopingforwhathasnevercomeyet。Ihavenomother，youhavelostyourdaughter；I
thought——Ithought——perhapswecouldbeacomforttoeachother！"
AndWaitstillrosefromherchairandputoutherhandtohelpMrs。Boyntondownthesteps，shelookedsofrail，sotransparent，soprematurelyaged。"Icouldnotcomeveryoften——butifIcouldonlysmoothyourhairsometimeswhenyourheadaches，ordosomecookingforyou，orreadtoyou，oranylittlethinglikethat，asIwouldfermyownmother——ifIcould，Ishouldbesoglad！"
WaitstillstoodaheadhigherthanIvory’smotherandtheglowinghealthofher，thesteadinessofhervoice，thewarmthofherhand—claspmusthavemadeherseemlikeastrongrefugetothisstorm—tossedderelict。ThedeepfurrowbetweenLoisBoynton’seyesrelaxedatrifle，thebloodinherveinsranalittlemoreswiftlyunderthetouchoftheyounghandthatheldherssoclosely。Suddenlyalightcameintoherfaceandherlipquivered。
"PerhapsIhavebeenrememberingwrongalltheseyears，"shesaid。"Itismygreattrouble，rememberingwrong。PerhapsmybabydidnotdieasIthought；perhapsshelivedandgrewup；perhaps"
（herpalecheekburnedandhereyesshonelikestars）"perhapsshehascomeback！"