Higgins，andIke。Mrs。DidamaRogerswastherealso，notasamourner，butbecause，inhercapacityasgathererofgossip，shemadeitapointnevertomissafuneral。TheRev。AbsalomGott，Come-OuterexhorteratWellmouth，preachedtheshortsermon，andEzekielBassettaddedafewremarks。Thenahymnwassunganditwasover。Thelittlecompanyfiledoutofthecemetery，andCaptainEbenHammondwasbutamemoryinTrumet。
KeziahlingeredtospeakawordwithGrace。Thegirl，lookingverywhiteandworn，leanedonthearmofCaptainNat，whosebigbodyactedasabufferbetweenherandover-sympatheticCome-Outers。
Mrs。CoffinsilentlyheldoutbothhandsandGracetookthemeagerly。
“Thankyouforcoming，AuntKeziah，“shesaid。“Iwassureyouwould。“
“LeastIcoulddo，deary，“wastheolderwoman’sanswer。“YouruncleandIwasgoodfriendsonce；wehaven’tseeneachothersooftenoflateyears，butthatain’tchangedmyfeelin’s。Nowyoumustgohomeandrest。Don’tletanyofthese“——witharatherscornfulglanceatJosiahBadgerandEzekielandtheReverendAbsalom——“theseJob’scomfortersbotheryou。Nat，youseethattheyletheralone，won’tyou？“