\"Iwasexpectinghimeverymoment\"；andWaitstillroseandstirredthefire。\"HetookthepungandwenttotheMillsforgrain。\"
\"Hehasn’tanythinginthebackofthepung——and，oh，Waity！heisstandingupnowandwhippingthehorsewithallhismight。I
neversawhimdrivelikethatbefore：whatcanbethematter？Hecan’thaveseenmywedding—ring，andonlythreepeopleinalltheworldknowaboutmybeingmarried。\"
Waitstillturnedfromthewindow，herheartbeatingalittlefaster。\"Whatthreepeopleknow，threehundredarelikelytoknowsoonerorlater。Itmaybeafalsealarm，butfatherisinafuryaboutsomething。Hemustnotbetoldthenewsuntilheisinabetterhumor！\"
XXVIII
PATTYISSHOWNTHEDOOR
DEACONBAXTERdroveintothebarn，andflingingablanketoverthewheezinghorse，closedthedoorbehindhimandhurriedintothehousewithouteventhinkingtolaydownhiswhip。
Openingthekitchendoorandstoppingoutsidelongenoughtokickthesnowfromhisheavyboots，hestrodeintothekitchenandconfrontedthetwogirls。Helookedatthemsharplybeforehespoke，scanningtheirflushedfacesandtear—stainedeyes；thenhebrokeoutsavagely：——
\"Oh！you’rebothhere；that’slucky。Nowstan’upandanswertome。What’sthisIhearattheMillsaboutPatience，——commontalkoutsidethestore？\"
Thetimehadcome，then，andbysomestrangefatality，whenMarkwastoofarawaytobeofservice。
\"Tellmewhatyouheard，father，andIcangiveyouabetteranswer，\"Pattyreplied，hedgingtogaintime，andshakinginwardly。
\"BillMorrillsayshisbrotherthatworksinNewHampshirereportsyouasridin’throughthestreetsofAllentownlastMondaywithayoungman。\"
Thereseemedbutonereplytothis，soPattyansweredtremblingly：\"Hesayswhat’strue；Iwasthere。\"
\"WHAT！\"AnditwasplainfromtheDeacon’svoicethathehadreallydisbelievedtherumor。Awhirlwindofragesweptthroughhimandshookhimfromheadtofoot。
\"Doyoumeantostan’therean’ownuptomethatyouwasthirtymilesawayfromhomewithayoungman？\"heshouted。
\"Ifyouaskmeaplainquestion，I’vegottotellyouthetruth，father：Iwas。\"
\"Howdareyoucarryonlikethatanddragmynameintoscandal，youworthlesstrollop，you？Whowentalongwithyou？I’llskinthehideoffhim，whoever’twas！\"
Pattyremainedmuteatthisthreat，butWaitstillcaughtherhandandwhispered：\"Tellhimall，dear；it’sgottocomeout。Bebrave，andI’11standbyyou。\"
\"Whyareyouinterferin’andputtin’inyourmeddlesomeoar？\"theDeaconsaid，turningtoWaitstill。\"Thegirlwouldnever’a’beenthereifyou’dattendedtoyourbusiness。She’snothin’butafoolofayoungfilly，an’you’reanoldcart—horse。Itwasyourjobtolookoutforherasyourmothertoldyouto。Anybodymight’a’guessedsheneededwatchin’！\"
\"Youshallnotcallmysisteranoldcart—horse！I’llnotpermitit！\"criedPatty，pluckingupcourageinhersister’sdefence，andasusualcomportingherselfatriflemorelikeaspitfirethanatrueheroineoftragedy。
\"Hush，Patty！Lethimcallmeanythingthathelikes；itmakesnodifferenceatsuchatime。\"
\"Waitstillknewnothingofmygoingawaytillthisafternoon，\"
continuedPatty。\"Ikeptitsecretfromheronpurpose，becauseI
wasafraidshewouldnotapprove。IwentwithMarkWilson，and——and——ImarriedhiminNewHampshirebecausewecouldn’tdoitathomewithoutevery—body’sknowledge。Nowyouknowall。\"
\"Doyoumeantotellmeyou’vegonean’marriedthatreckless，wuthless，horse—trottin’，card—playin’sneakofaWilsonboythat’scourtedeverygirlintown？Marriedthesonofamanthathasquarrelledwithmeandinsultedmeinpublic？BytheLordHarry，I’llcrackthiswhipoveryourshouldersoncebeforeI’mdonewithyou！IfI’dusedityearsagoyoumighthavebeenanhonestwomanto—day，insteadofa——\"
FoxwellBaxterhadwhollylostcontrolofhimself，andthetemper，thathadneverbeengovernedorheldincheck，lasheditselfintoafurythatmadehimforthemomentunaccountableforhiswordsoractions。
WaitstilltookastepforwardinfrontofPatty。\"Putdownthatwhip，father，orI’lltakeitfromyouandbreakitacrossmyknee！\"Hereyesblazedandsheheldherheadhigh。\"You’vemademedotheworkofaman，and，thankGod，I’vegotthemuscleofone。Don’tliftafingertoPatty，orI’11defendher，Ipromiseyou！Thedinner—hornisinthesideentryandtwoblastswillbringUncleBartupthehill，butI’drathernotcallhimunlessyouforcemeto。\"
TheDeacon’sgrasponthewhiprelaxed，andhefellbackalittleinsheerastonishmentatthebravadoofthegirl，ordinarilysoquietandself—contained。Hewasspeechlessforasecond，andthenrecoveredbreathenoughtoshouttotheterrifiedPatty：\"I
won’tusethewhiptillIhearwhetheryou’vegotanyexcuseforyourscandalousbehavior。Hearmetellyouonething：thislittlepleasure—tripo’yournwon’tdoyounogood，forI’11breakthemarriage！Iwon’thaveaWilsoninmyfamilyifIhavetoemptyashot—gunintohim；butyourliesandyourlowstreetsaresobeyondreasonIcan’tbelievemyears。What’syourexcuse，I
say？\"
\"Stopaminute，Patty，beforeyouanswer，andletmesayafewthingsthatoughttohavebeensaidbeforenow，\"interposedWaitstill。\"IfPattyhasdonewrong，father，you’venoonebutyourselftothankforit，andit’sonlybyGod’sgracethatnothingworsehashappenedtoher。Whatcouldyouexpectfromayoungthinglikethat，withhermerryheartturnedintoalumpinherbreasteverydaybyyourcruelty？Didshedeceiveyou？Well，you’vemadeherafraidofyoueversinceshewasababyinthecradle，drawingthecoversoverherlittleheadwhensheheardyourstep。Whatevercropyousowisboundtocomeup，father；
that’sNature’slaw，andGod’s，aswell。\"
\"Youholdyourtongue，you，——readin’thelawtoyoureldersan’
betters，\"saidtheoldman，chokingwithwrath。\"Mybusinessiswiththiswuthlesssistero’yourn，notwithyou！——You’vegotyourcoatandhoodon，miss，soyoujestclearouto’thehouse；
an’ifyou’retooslowaboutit，I’llhelpyoualong。I’venokindofanideayou’rerightlymarried，forthatyoungWilsonsneakcouldn’tpaysohighforyouasallthat；butifitamusesyoutocallhimyourhusband，goan’findhiman’staywithhim。
Thisisanhonesthouse，an’noplaceforsuchasyou！\"
PattyhadagoodshareoftheBaxtertemper，notundersuchcontrolasWaitstill’s，andthebloodmountedintoherface。
\"Youshallnotspeaktomeso！\"shesaidintrepidly，whilekeepingadiscreeteyeonthewhip。\"I’mnota——a——caterpillartobesteppedon，I’mamarriedwoman，asrightasaNewHampshirejusticecanmakeme，withawedding—ringandacertificatetoshow，ifneedbe。Andyoushallnotcallmyhusbandnames！Timewilltellwhatheisgoingtobe，andthat’sason—in—lawanytruefatherwouldbeproudtoown！\"
\"Whyareyousetagainstthismatch，father？\"arguedWaitstill，strivingtomakehimhearreason。\"Pattyhasmarriedintooneofthebestfamiliesinthevillage。Markisgayandthought—less，butneverhashebeenseentheworseforliquor，andneverhashedoneathingforwhichawifeneedhangherhead。Itissomethingforayoungfellowoffour—and—twentytobeabletoprovideforawifeandkeepherincomfort；andwhenallissaidanddone，itisatruelove—match。\"
Pattyseizedthisinopportunemomenttoforgetherfather’spresence，andthetragicnatureoftheoccasion，and，inherusualimpetuousfashion，flungherarmsaroundWaitstill’sneckandgaveherthehugofayoungbear。
\"Myowndearsister，\"shesaid。\"Idon’tmindanything，solongasyoustandupforus。\"
\"Don’tmakehergoto—night，father，\"pleadedWaitstill。\"Don’tsendyourownchildoutintothecold。Rememberherhusbandisawayfromhome。\"
\"ShecanfindanotherupattheMillsasgoodasheis，orbetter。Offwithyou，Isay，youtrumperylittlebaggage，you！\"
\"Go，then，dear，itisbetterso；UncleBartwillkeepyouovernight；runupandgetyourthings\"；andWaitstillsankintoachair，realizingthehopelessnessofthesituation。
\"She’11nottakeanythingfrommyhouse。It’sherhusband’sbusinesstofindherinclothes。\"
\"They’llbebetteronesthaneveryoufoundme，\"wasPatty’sresponse。
Noheroicsforher；nofaintingfitsatbeingdisowned；nohystericsatbeingturnedoutofhouseandhome；noprayersformercy，butaquickretortforeverygibefromherfather；andherdefiantattitudeenragedtheDeaconthemore。
\"Iwon’tspeakagain，\"hesaid，inatonethatcouldnotbemistaken。\"Intothestreetyougo，withtheclothesyoustandupin，orI’11dowhatIsaidI’ddo。\"
\"Go，Patty，it’stheonlythingtobedone。Don’ttremble，fornobodyshalltouchahairofyourhead。Icantrustyoutofindshelterto—night，andMarkwilltakecareofyouto—morrow。\"
Pattybuttonedhershabbycoatandtiedonherhoodasshewalkedfromthekitchenthroughthesitting—roomtowardsthesidedoor，herheartheavingwithshameandanger，andaboveallwithachild’ssenseofhelplessnessatbeingpartedfromhersister。
\"Don’ttelltheneighborsanymoreliesthanyoucanhelp，\"
calledherfatherafterherretreatingform；\"an’ifanyof’emdaretocomeupherean’givemeanyoftheirimperdence，they’llbetreatedsameasyou。Comebackhere，Waitstill，anddon’tgotoslobberin’anygood—byesoverher。Sheain’tlikelytogetouto’thevillageforsometimeifshe’sexpectin’MarkWilsontotakeheraway。\"
\"Ishallcertainlygotothedoorwithmysister，\"saidWaitstillcoldly，suitingtheactiontotheword，andfollowingPattyoutonthesteps。\"ShallyoutellUncleBarteverything，dear，andaskhimtoletyousleepathishouse？\"
Bothgirlsweretremblingwithexcitement；Waitstillpaleasaghost，Pattyflushedandtearful，withdefianteyesandlipsthatquiveredrebelliously。
\"Is’poseso，\"sheanswereddolefully；\"thoughAuntAbbyhatesme，onaccountofCephas。I’drathergotoDr。Perry’s，butI
don’tliketomeetPhil。Theredoesn’tseemtobeanygoodplaceforme，butit’sonlyforanight。Andyou’11notletfatherpreventyourseeingMarkandmeto—morrow，willyou？Areyouafraidtostayalone？I’11sitonthestepsallnightifyousaytheword。\"
\"No，no，runalong。Fatherhasventedhisrageuponyou，andI
shallnothaveanymoretrouble。Godblessandkeepyou，darling。
Runalong！\"
\"Andyou’renotangrywithmenow，Waity？Youstillloveme？Andyou’llforgiveMarkandcometostaywithussoon，soon，soon？\"
\"We’llsee，dear，whenallthisunhappybusinessissettled，andyouaresafeandhappyinyourownhome。Ishallhavemuchtotellyouwhenwemeetto—morrow。\"
XXIX
WAITSTILLSPEAKSHERMIND
Pattyhadthemostardentloveforhereldersister，andsomethingthatresembledreverenceforherunselfishness，herloyalty，andherstrengthofcharacter；butifthetruthweretoldshehadnogreatopinionofWaitstill’sabilitytofeelrighteouswrath，norofherpowertoavengeherselfinthefaceofrankinjustice。Itwastheconvictionofherownsuperiorfinesseandaudacitythathadsustainedpattyallthroughherlateescapade。Shefeltherselfaluckygirl，indeed，toachievelibertyandhappinessforherself，butdoublyluckyifshehadchancedtoopenawayofescapeforhermoredocileanddutifulsister。
ShewouldhavebeenatrifleastonishedhadshesurmisedtheexistenceofcertainmysteriouswavesthathadbeensweepingalongthecoastsofWaitstill’smindthatafternoon，breakingdownallsortsofdefencesandcarryingherwillalongwiththembysheerforce：butitisatruismthattwohumanbeingscanlivebesideeachotherforhalfacenturyandyetcontinuestrangers。
Patty’selopementwiththeyouthofherchoice，takingintoaccountallitsattendantrisks，wasIndeedanexhibitionofcourageandinitiativenotcommontogirlsofseventeen；butWaitstillwasmeditatingamutinymoredaringyet——amutiny，too，involvingacourseofconductmostunusualinmaidensofpuritandescent。
Shewalkedbackintothekitchentofindherfathersittingplacidlyintherocking—chairbythewindow。Hehadlightedhiscorn—cobpipe，inwhichhealwayssmokedamixtureofdriedsweet—fernasbeingcheaperthantobacco，andhisfaceworesomethingresemblingasmile——afoxysmile——ashewatchedhisyoungest—bornploughingdownthehillthroughthedeepsnow，whilethemoreobedientWaitstillmovedabouttheroom，settingsupperonthetable。
ConversationwasnottheDeacon’sforte，butitseemedproperforsomeonetobreaktheicethatseemedsuddenlytobeverythickintheimmediatevicinity。
\"ThatlittleJill—go—over—the—groundwillgivetheneighborsapleasantevenin’tellin’’em’boutme，\"hechuckled。\"AuntAbbyColewillrunthestreetso’thethreevillagesbysun—upto—morrer；butnobodypaysany’tentiontoawomanwhosetongueishunginthemiddleandwagsatbothends。Iwa’n’tintendingtousethewhiponyoursister，Waitstill，\"continuedtheDeacon，withacraftylookathissilentdaughter，\"thoughatrouncin’
would’a’doneherasighto’good；butIwasonlytryin’tofrightenheralittlemitean’payherupforbringin’disgraceonusthewayshe’sdone，makin’usthetalko’thetown。Well，she’sgone，an’goodriddancetobadrubbish，sayI！Onelessmouthtofeed，an’onelessbodytoclothe。You’llmissherjestatfirst，onaccounto’therebein’nootherwomen—folksonthehill，but’twon’tlastlong。I’llhaveBillMorrilldosomeo’youroutsidechores，so’tyoucantakeonyoursister’swork，ifsheeverdoneany。\"
ThiswasamostastoundinglygenerouspropositionontheDeacon’spart，andtotellthetruthhedidnothimselffullyunderstandhismentalprocesseswhenhemadeit；butitseemedtobedrawnfromhimbyakindofinstinctthathewasnotstandingwellinhiselderdaughter’sbooks。Thoughthetwogirlshadnevermadeanydemonstrationoftheiraffectioninhispresence，hehadafairideaoftheirmutualdependenceuponeachother。NotthatheplacedtheslightestvalueonWaitstill’sopinionofhim，orcaredinthesmallestdegreewhatshe，oranyoneelseintheuniverse，thoughtofhisconduct；butshecertainlydidappeartoadvantagewhencontrastedwiththepertlittlehussywhohadjustleftthepremises。Also，Waitstillloomedlargeinhishouseholdcomfortsandeconomies，havingaclearhead，asurehand，andbeingoneofthesteady—going，reliablesortthatcanbecountedoninemergencies，not，likePatty，goingoffathalf—cockatthesmallestprovocation。Yes，Waitstill，asaproductofhismasterlytrainingforthelastsevenyears，hadsettleddown，notwithoutsometroubleandfriction，intoatolerablydependablepack—horse，andheintendedinthefuturetousesomecareinmakingpermanentsovaluableanaidandally。Shedidnotpursuenorattracttheoppositesex，ashisyoungerdaughterapparentlydid；sobycontinuinghispolicyofkeepingallyoungmenrigidlyatadistancehecouldcountconfidentlyonhaving’，Waitstillservehispurposesforthenextfifteenortwentyyears，oraslongashe，himself，shouldcontinuetoornamentandenrichtheearth。HewouldgotoSacotheverynextday，andcutPattyoutofhiswill，arranginghispropertysothatWaitstillshouldbethechieflegateeaslongasshecontinuedtoliveobedientlyunderhisroof。HeintendedtomakethelastpointclearifhehadtoconsulteverylawyerinYorkCounty；forhewouldn’ttakerisksonanywomanalive。
Ifhemustleavehismoneyanywhere——anditwaswithabitterpangthathefacedtheinexorableconvictionthathecouldneitherliveforever，nortakehissavingswithhimtotherealmsofblisspreparedformembersoftheOrthodoxChurchingoodandregularstanding——ifhemustleavehismoneybehindhim，hewoulddigaholeinthegroundandburyit，ratherthanletitgotoanyonewhohadangeredhiminhislifetime。
Thesewerethethoughtsthatcausedhimtorelaxhisirongripandsmileashesatbythewindow，smokinghiscorn—cobpipeandtakingoneofhisveryrareperiodsofrest。
Presentlyheglancedattheclock。\"It’sonlyquarter—pastfour，\"
hesaid。\"Ithought’twaslater，butthesnowmakesitsolightyoucan’tjedgethetime。Themoonfullsto—night，don’tit？Yes；
cometothinkofit，Iknowitdoes。Ain’tyousettin’outsupperalittlemiteearly，Waitstill？\"Thiswasalongerandmoreamiablespeechthanhehadmadeinyears，butWaitstillneverglancedathimasshesaid：\"Itisalittleearly，butIwanttogetitreadybeforeIleave。\"
\"Beyougoin’out？Mind，Iwon’thaveyoufollerin’Patienceround；you’llonlyupsetwhatI’vedone，an’anyhowIwantyoutokeepawayfromtheneighborsforafewdays，tillallthisblowsover。\"
Hespokefirmly，thoughforhimmildly，forhestillhadtheuneasyfeelingthathestoodonthebrinkofavolcano；and，asamatteroffact，hetumbledintoittheverynextmoment。
Themeagresupperwasspread；aplateofcold；sodabiscuits，adried—applepie，andtheusualbrownteapotwereinevidence；andasherfatherceasedspeakingWaitstillopenedthedoorofthebrickovenwherethebean—potreposed，setachairbythetable，andturning，tookuphercoat（hermother’soldriding—cloak，itwas），andcalmlyputiton，reachingthenforherhoodandhersquirreltippet。
\"Youaregoin’out，then，spiteo’whatIsaid？\"theDeaconinquiredsternly。
\"Didyoureallythink，father，thatIwouldsleepunderyourroofafteryouhadturnedmysisteroutintothesnowtolodgewithwhoevermighttakeherin——myseventeenyear—old—sisterthatyourwifelefttomycare；mylittlesister，theverylightofmylife？\"
Waitstill’svoicetrembledatrifle，butother—wiseshewasquitecalmandfreefromheroicsofanysort。
TheDeaconlookedupinsurprise。\"Iguessyou’rekindo’
hystericky，\"hesaid。\"Setdown——setdownan’talkthingsover。I
ain’tgotnothin’ag’in’you，an’Imeantotreatyouright。Setdown！\"
Theoldmanwasdecidedlynervous，andintendedtokeephistemperuntiltherewasasaferchancetoletitfly。
Waitstillsatdown。\"There’snothingtotalkover，\"shesaid。\"I
havedoneallthatIpromisedmystepmotherthenightshedied，andnowIamgoing。Ifthere’sadutyowedbetweendaughterandfather，itoughttoworkbothways。IconsiderthatIhavedonemyshare，andnowIintendtoseekhappinessformyself。Ihaveneverhadany，andIamstarvingforit。\"
\"An’you’dleavemetogitonthebestIcan，afterwhatI’vedoneforyou？\"burstouttheDeacon，stilltryingtoholddownhisgrowingpassion。
\"Yougavememylife，andI’mthankfultoyouforthat，butyou’vegivenmelittlesince，father。\"
\"Hain’tIfedan’clothedyou？\"
\"NomorethanIhavefedandclothedyou。You’veprovidedtherawfood，andI’vecookedandservedit。You’veboughtandIhavemadeshirtsandoverallsandcoatsforyou，andknittedyoursocksandcomfortersandmittens。NotonlyhaveItoiledandsavedandscrimpedawaymygirlhoodasyoubademe，butI’veearnedforyou。Whomadethebutter，andtookcareofthehens，anddriedtheapples，and’drewin’therugs？Whoraisedandgroundthepeppersforsale，andtendedthegeesethatyoumightsellthefeathers？No，father，Idon’tconsiderthatI’minyourdebt！\"
XXX
ACLASHOFWILLS
DEACONFOXWELLBAXTERwascompletelynon—plussedforthefirsttimeinhislife。Hehadneverallowed\"argyfyin’\"inhishousehold，andtherehadneverbeenaclashofwillsbeforethiswhenhehadnotcomeoffswiftlyandbrutallytriumphant。Thissituationwascomplicatedbythefactthathedidnotdaretoapplythebrakesasusual，sincethereweremoreissuesinvolvedthaneverbefore。Hefelttoostunnedtodealproperlywiththisdaughter，havingemptiedallthevialsofhiswrathupontheotherone，andbeing，inconsequence，somewhatenfeebled。ItwasalwayseasyenoughtocopewithPatty，forherimpertinenceevokedsuchragethattheargumenttookcareofitself；butthisgraveyoungwomanwasadifferentmatter。Thereshesatcomposedlyontheedgeofherwoodenchair，herheadliftedhigh，hercolorcomingandgoing，hereyesshiningsteadily，likefixedstars；thereshesat，calmlyannouncingherintentionofleavingherfathertoshiftforhimself；yettheskiesseemedtohavenothoughtoffalling！Hefeltthathemustmakeanotherefforttoasserthisauthority。
\"Now，youtakeoffyourcoat，\"hesaid，thepipeinhishandtremblingashestirrednervouslyinhischair。\"Youtakeyourcoatrightoffan’setdowntothesupper—table，sameasusual，doyouhear？Eatyourvictualsan’thengotoyourbedan’gitoverthiscrazyfitthatPatiencehasstartedworkin’inyou。Nomorenonsense，now；doasItellyou！\"
\"Ihavemadeupmymind，father，andit’snousearguing。Allwhotrytolivewithyoufail，soonerorlater。Youhavehadfourchildren，father。Oneboyranaway；theotherdidnotmindbeingdrowned，Ifear，sincelifewassohardathome。Youhavejustturnedthethirdchildoutforasinofdeceitanddisobedienceshewouldneverhavecommitted——forhernatureisasclearascrystal——ifyouhadeverlovedherorconsideredherhappiness。
SoIhavedonewithyou，unlessinyouroldageGodshouldbringyoutosuchapassthatnooneelsewillcometoyourassistance；
thenI’dseesomehowthatyouwerecaredforandnursedandmadecomfortable。Youarenotanoldman；youarestrongandhealthy，andyouhaveplentyofmoneytogetagoodhouse—keeper。Ishoulddecidedifferently，perhaps，ifallthiswerenottrue。\"
\"Youlie！Ihaven’tgotplentyofmoney！\"AndtheDeaconstruckthetableasuddenblowthatmadethechinainthecupboardrattle。\"You’venonotionwhatthishousecostsme，an’thefeedforthestock，an’youtwogirls，an’laboratthestore，an’thehay—field，an’thetaxesan’insurance！I’veslavedfromsunrisetosunsetbutIain’thardlybeenabletolayupacent。Is’posetheneighborshavebeenfillin’youfullo’talesaboutmymis’ablelittlesavin’san’makin’’emintoafortune。Well，youwon’tgitanyof’em，Ipromiseyouthat！\"
\"Youhaveplentylaidaway；everybodyknows，sowhat’stheuseofdenyingit？Anyway，Idon’twantapennyofyourmoney，father，sogood—bye。There’senoughcookedtokeepyouforacoupleofdays\"；andWaitstillrosefromherchairanddrewonhermittens。
Fatheranddaughterconfrontedeachother，thesecretfuryofthemanmetbythesteadydeterminationofthegirl。TheDeaconwasbaffled，almostawed，byWaitstill’squietself—control；butattheverymomentthathewashalf—uncomprehendinglyglaringather，itdawneduponhimthathewasbeaten，andthatshewasmistressofthesituation。
Wherewouldshego？Whatwereherplans？——fordefiniteplansshehad，orshecouldnotmeethiseyewithsoresoluteagaze。Ifshedidleavehim，howcouldhecontrivetogetherbackagain，andsoescapethescornofthevillage，theavertedlook，thelessenedtrade？
\"Whereareyougoin’now？\"heasked，andthoughhetriedhisbesthecouldnotforthelifeofhimkeepbackonefinaltaunt。\"I
s’pose，likeyoursister，you’vegotamaninyoureye？\"Hechosethis，tohim，impossiblesuggestionasbeingthemostinsultingonethathecouldinventatthemoment。
\"Ihave，\"repliedWaitstill，\"amaninmyeyeandinmyheart。Weshouldhavebeenhusbandandwifebeforethishadwenotbeenkeptapartbyobstaclestoostubbornforustoovercome。Mywayhaschancedtoopenfirst，thoughitwasnoneofmycontriving。\"
Hadtherooffalleninuponhim，theDeaconcouldnothavebeenmoredumbfounded。Histongueliterallyclovetotheroofofhismouth；hisfacefell，andhismean，piercingeyesblinkedunderhisshaggybrowsasifseekinglight。
Waitstillstirredthefire，closedthebrickovenandputtheteapotonthebackofthestove，hungupthelong—handleddipperonitsaccustomednailoverthesink，andwenttothedoor。
Herfathercollectedhisscatteredwitsandpulledhimselftohisfeetbythearmsofthehigh—backedrocker。\"Youshan’tstepoutsidethis306
roomtillyoutellmewhereyou’regoin’，\"hesaidwhenhefoundhisvoice。
\"Ihavenowishtokeepitsecret：IamgoingtoseeifMrs。
Masonwillkeepmeto—night。To—morrowIshallwalkdownriverandgetworkatthemills，butonmywayIshallstopattheBoyntons’totellIvoryIamreadytomarryhimassoonashe’sreadytotakeme。\"
ThiswasenoughtostirthebloodoftheDeaconintoonelastfury。
\"ImighthaveguesseditifIhadn’tbeenblindasabatan’deafasanadder！\"Andhegavethetableanotherringingblowbeforeheleanedonittogatherstrength。\"Ofcourse，itwouldbeoneo’thatcrazyBoyntoncrewyou’dtakeupwith，\"heroared。