\"Iwasthinkingthat，asyoucan\'tdomuchwiththosehandsofyours，diggingandshoveling，andnotmuchwithyourfeeteither，overploughedground，youmightdosomeinsidework，thatwouldpayyoubetter，too。Youmighthelpinthediningroom，settingtableandwashingup，helpingmaandme——thoughIdon\'tdomuchexceptoverseeing。Icouldshowyouwhattodoatfirst，andyou\'dlearnquickenough。Ifyousay\'yes，\'I\'llspeaktopato-night。He\'lldowhateverIsay。”
Therageandshamethatfilledhisbreastchokedeventhebitterlaughthatfirstrosetohislips。Ifhecouldhaveturnedonhisheelandleftherwithmarkedindignation，hewouldhavedoneso，buttheywerescarcelyhalfwayacrossthefield；hisstumblingretreatwouldhaveonlyappearedridiculous，andhewasbynomeanssurethatshewouldnothavelookeduponitasmerelyaconfessionofhisinabilitytokeepupwithher。Andyettherewassomethingpeculiarlyfascinatingandtantalizinginthesituation。Shedidnotseethesardonicglitterinhiseyeashesaidbrutally:——
\"Ha!andthatwouldgivemetheexquisitepleasureofbeingnearyou。”
Sheseemedalittleconfused，evenunderherenwrappings，andinsteppingdownherfootslipped。Reddyinstantlyscrambleduptoherandcaughtherasshewaspitchingforwardintothefurrow。
Yetinthestruggletokeephisownfootholdhewasawarethatshewasassistinghim，andalthoughhehadpassedhisarmaroundherwaist，asifforherbettersecurity，itwasonlythroughHERfirmgraspofhiswriststhatheregainedhisownfooting。The\"cloud\"