\"Well，Ihopethey’llneverhearanythingworse，\"repliedherfather，flingingabucketofwateroverthelastofthewagonwheels。
\"THEYCOULDN’T！\"Thesewordswereneverspokenaloud，butoh！howPattylongedtoshoutthemwithaclarionvoiceasshewalkedawayinperfectsilence，hermajesticgaitshowing，shehoped，howsheresentedtheoutcomeoftheinterview。
I’vestooduptofather！\"sheexclaimedtriumphantlyassheenteredthekitchenandsetdownheryellowbowlofeggsonthetable。\"Istooduptohim，andansweredhimbackthreetimes！\"
WaitstillwasbusywithherSaturdaymorningcooking，butsheturnedinalarm。
\"Patty，whathaveyousaidanddone？Tellmequickly！\"
\"I’argyfied，’butitdidn’tdoanygood；hewon’tletmegotoEllen’sparty。\"
Waitstillwipedherflouryhandsandputthemonhersister’sshoulders。
\"HearwhatIsay，Patty：youmustnotarguewithfather，whateverhesays。Wedon’tlovehimandsothereisn’ttherightrespectinourhearts，butatleasttherecanberespectinourmanners。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveIcangoonforyears，holdingin，Waitstill！\"
Pattywhimpered。
\"Yes，youcan。Ihave！\"
\"You’redifferent，Waitstill。\"
\"Iwasn’tsodifferentatsixteen，butthat’sfiveyearsago，andI’vegotcontrolofmytongueandmytempersincethen。Sometime，perhaps，whenIhaveagrievancetoogreattoberightlyborne，sometimewhenyouareawayfromhereinahomeofyourown，I
shallspeakouttofather；justemptymyheartofallthedisappointmentandbitternessandrebellion。Somebodyoughttotellhimthetruth，andperhapsitwillbeme！\"
\"Iwishitcouldbeme，\"exclaimedPattyvindictively，andwithanequaldisregardofgrammar。
\"Youwouldspeakintemper，I’mafraid，Patty，andthatwouldspoilall。I’msorryyoucan’tgouptoEllen’s，\"shesighed，turningbacktoherwork；\"youdon’thavepleasureenoughforoneofyourage；still，don’tfret；somethingmayhappentochangethings，andanyhowtheweatherisgrowingwarmer，andyouandI
havesomanymoreoutingsinsummer—time。Smoothdownyourhair，child；therearestrawsinit，andit’sallroughwiththewind。
Idon’tlikeflyinghairaboutakitchen。\"
\"Iwishmyhairwasflyingsomewhereathousandmilesfromhere；
oratleastIshouldwishitifitdidnotmeanleavingyou；foroh。I’msomiserableanddisappointedandunhappy！\"
Waitstillbentoverthegirlassheflungherselfdownbesidethetableandsmoothedhershouldergently。
\"There，there，dear；itisn’tlikemygaylittlesistertocry。
Whatisthematterwithyouto—day，Patty？\"
\"Isupposeit’sthespring，\"shesaid，wipinghereyeswithherapronandsmilingthroughhertears。\"PerhapsIneedadoseofsulphurandmolasses。\"
\"Don’tyoufeelwellascommon？\"
\"Well？Ifeeltoowell！IfeelasifIwasayoungcoltshutupinanattic。Iwanttokickupmyheels，batterthedoordown，andgetoutintothepasture。It’snousetalking，Waity；——I
can’tgoonlivingwithoutabitofpleasureandIcan’tgoonbeingpatientevenforyoursake。Ifitweren’tforyou，I’drunawayasJobdid；andIneverbelievedMosesslippedonthelogs；
I’msurehethrewhimselfintotheriver，andsoshouldIifI
hadthecourage！\"
\"Stop，Patty，stop，dear！Youshallhaveyourbitofpasture，atleast。I’lldosomeofyourindoortasksforyou，andyoushallputonyoursunbonnetandgooutanddigthedandeliongreensfordinner。Takethebrokenknifeandamilkpananddon’tbringinsomuchearthwiththemasyoudidlasttime。Dryyoureyesandlookatthegreenthingsgrowing。Rememberhowyoungyouareandhowmanyyearsareaheadofyou！Goalong，dear！\"
Waitstillwentaboutherworkwithratheraheavyheart。Waslifegoingtobemoreratherthanlessdifficult，nowthatPattywasgrowingup？Wouldsheheabletodoherdutybothbyfatherandsisterandkeeppeaceinthehousehold，asshehadvowed，inhersecretheart，alwaystodo？ShepausedeverynowandthentolookoutofthewindowandwaveanencouraginghandtoPatty。Thegirl’sbonnetwasoff，andheruncoveredheadblazedlikeredgoldinthesunlight。Theshortyounggrasswasdottedwithdandelionblooms，someofthemalreadygrowntohugedisksofyellow，andPattymovedhitherandthither，selectingtheyoungerweeds，deftlyputtingthebrokenknifeundertheirrootsandpoppingthemintothetinpan。Presently，forDeaconBaxterhadfinishedthewagonandgonedownthehilltorelieveCephasColeatthecounter，Patty’sshrillyoungwhistlefloatedintothekitchen，butwithamischievousglanceattheopenwindowshebrokeoffsuddenlyandbegantosingthewordsofthehymnwithrathermoreemphasisandgustothanstrictpietywarranted。
\"There’llbeSOMEthinginheav—enforchil—drentodo，Noneareidleinthatbless—edland：
There’llbeWORKfortheheart。There’llbeWORKforthemind，AndemPLOYmentforEACHlittlehand。
\"There’llbeSOME—thingtodo，There’llbeSOME—thingtodo，There’llbeSOME—thingforCHIL—drentodo！
Onthatbrightblessedshorewherethere’sjoyevermore，There’llbeSOME—thingforCHIL—DRENtodo。\"
Patty’syoungexistencebeingfulltothebrimoflabor，thisviewofheavenneverintheleastappealedtoherandsherenderedthehymnwithlittlesympathy。Themainpartoftheversewasstronglyaccentedbyjabsattheunoffendingdandelionroots，butwhenthechoruscameshebroughtouttheemphaticsyllablesbyabeatofthebrokenknifeonthemilkpan。
ThisrenditionofaSabbath—SchoolclassicdidnotmeetWaitstill’sideasofperfectpropriety，butshesmiledandletitpass，planningsomesortofrecreationforastolenhalf—houroftheafternoon。Itwouldhavetobeawalkthroughthepastureintothewoodstoseewhathadgrownsincetheywentthereafortnightago。PattylovedpeoplebetterthanNature，butfailingtheoneshecouldputupwiththeother，forshehadasenseofbeautyandapaganloveofcolor。Therewouldbepale—huedinnocenceandblueandwhitevioletsinthemoistplaces，thoughtWaitstill，andtheywouldhavetheminachinacuponthesupper—table。No，thatwouldneverdo，forlasttimefatherhadknockedthemoverwhenhewasreachingforthebread，andinasilentprotestagainstsuchfoolishnessgotupfromthetableandemptiedtheirsintothekitchensink。
\"There’saplaceforeverything，\"hesaidwhenhecameback，\"andtheplaceforflowersisoutdoors。\"
Theninthepinewoodstherewouldbe，shewassure，StarofBethlehem，Solomon’sSeal，thewhitesprayofgroundnutsandbunchberries。PerhapstheycouldmakeabouquetandPattywouldtakeitacrossthefieldstoMrs。Boynton’sdoor。Sheneednotgoin，andthustheywouldnotbedisobeyingtheirfather’scommandnottovisitthat\"crazyBoyntonwoman。\"
HerePattycameinwithapanfullofgreensandthesisterssatdowninthesunnywindowtogetthemreadyforthepot。
\"I’mcalmer，\"thelittlerebelallowed。\"That’sgenerallythewayitturnsoutwithme。Igetintoarage，butIcangenerallysingitoff！\"
\"Youcertainlymusthavegotridofagooddealoftemperthismorning，bythewayyourvoicesounded。\"
\"Nobodycanhearusinthisout—of—the—wayplace。It’seasyenoughtoseethatthewomenweren’taskedtosayanythingwhenthemensettledwherethehousesshouldbebuilt！Themenweren’tcontenttostickthemonthetopofahighhill，orhalfamilefromthestores，butputthembacktothemainroad，takingduecaretocutthesink—windowwheretheirwivescouldn’tseeanythingevenwhentheywerewashingdishes。\"
\"Idon’tknowthatIeverthoughtaboutitinthatway\"；andWaitstilllookedoutofthewindowinabrownstudywhileherhandsworkedwiththedandeliongreens。\"I’venoticedit，butI
neversupposedthemendiditintentionally。\"
\"No，youwouldn’t，\"saidPattywiththepessimismofawomanofninety，asshestoleanadmiringglanceathersister。Patty’sownface，irregular，piquant，tantalizing，haditspeculiarcharm，andherbrilliantskinandhairsodazzledthemasculinebeholderthathetooknoteofnosmalldefects；butWaitstillwasbeautiful；beautifuleveninherworkingdressofpurplecalico。
Hersinglebraidofhair，theFoxwellhair，thatinherwasbronzeandinPattypaleauburn，waswoundoncearoundherfineheadandmadetostandalittleasitwentacrossthefront。Itwasasimple，easy，unconsciousfashionofherown，quitedifferentfromanythingdonebyotherwomeninhertimeandplace，anditjustsuitedherdignityandserenity。Itlookedlikeacoronet，butitwasthewayshecarriedherheadthatgaveyouthefancy，therewassuchspiritandprideinthepoiseofitonthelonggracefulneck。Hereyeswereasclearasmountainpoolsshadedbyrushes，andthestrengthofthefacewassoftenedbythesweetnessofthemouth。
Pattyneverlettheconversationdieoutformanysecondsatatimeandnowshebeganagain。\"Mysuddenragesdon’tmatchmynameverywell，but，ofcourse，motherdidn’tknowhowIwasgoingtoturnoutwhenshecalledmePatience，forIwasnothingbutasquirminglittlebald，redbaby；butmynamereallyistooridiculouswhenyouthinkaboutit。\"
Waitstilllaughedasshesaid：\"Itdidn’ttakeyoulongtochangeit！PerhapsPatiencewasahardwordforababytosay，butthemomentyoucouldtalkyousaid，’Pattywantsthis’and’Pattywantsthat。\"’
\"DidPattyevergetit？Sheneverhassince，that’scertain！Andlookatyourname：it’s’Waitstill，’yetyouneverstopamoment。
Whenyou’renotintheshedorbarn，orchicken—house，orkitchenorattic，orgarden—patch，youareworkingintheSundaySchoolorthechoir。\"
ItseemedasifWaitstilldidnotintendtoanswerthisarraignmentofheractivities。Sheroseandcrossedtheroomtoputthepanofgreensinthesink，preparingtowashthem。
Takingthelong—handleddipperfromthenail，shepausedamomentbeforeplungingitintothewaterpail；paused，andleaningherelbowonacorneroftheshelfoverthesink，lookedsteadfastlyoutintotheorchard。
PattywatchedhercuriouslyandwasjustgoingtoofferapennyforherthoughtswhenWaitstillsuddenlybrokethebriefsilencebysaying：\"Yes，Iamalwaysbusy；it’sbetterso，butallthesame，Patty，I’mwaiting，——inside！Idon’tknowforwhat，butI
alwaysfeelthatIamwaiting！\"
VI
AKISS
\"SHALLwehaveourwalkinthewoodsontheEdgewoodsideoftheriver，justforachange，Patty？\"suggestedhersister。\"Thewaterissohighthisyearthattheriverwillbesplendid。Wecangatherourflowersinthehillpastureandthenyou’llbequitenearMrs。Boynton’sandcancarrythenosegaytherewhileI
comehomeaheadofyouandgetsupper。I’lltaketo—day’seggstofather’sstoreonthewayandaskhimifhemindsourhavingalittlewalk。I’veanerrandatAuntAbby’sthatwouldtakemedowntothebridgeanyway。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidPatty，somewhatapathetically。\"Ialwayslikeawalkwithyou，butIdon’tcarewhatbecomesofmethisafternoonifIcan’tgotoEllen’sparty。\"
TheexcursiontookplaceaccordingtoWaitstill’splan，andatfouro’clockshespedbacktohernightworkandpreparationsforsupper，leavingPattywithagreatbunchofearlywildflowersforIvory’smother。PattyhadleftthemattheBoyntons’doorwithRodman，whowaspickingupchipsandvolunteeredtotakethenosegayintothehouseatonce。
\"Won’tyoustepinside？\"theboyaskedshyly，wishingtobepolite，butconsciousthatvisitors，fromthevillageveryseldomcrossedthethreshold。
\"I’dliketo，butIcan’tthisafternoon，thankyou。Imustrunallthewaydownthehillnow，orIshan’tbeintimetosupper。\"
\"Doyoueatmealstogetherovertoyourhouse？\"askedtheboy。
\"We’reallthreeatthetableifthatmeanstogether。\"
\"Weneverare。Ivorygoesoffearlyandtakeslunchinapail。SodoIwhenIgotoschool。AuntBoyntonneversitsdowntoeat；
shejuststandsatthewindowandtakesabiteofsomethingnow’andthen。Youhaven’tgotanymother，haveyou？\"
\"No，Rodman。\"
\"NeitherhaveI，noranyfather，noranyrelationsbutAuntBoyntonandIvory。Ivoryisverygoodtome，andwhenhe’sathomeI’mneverlonesome。\"
\"Iwishyoucouldcomeoverandeatwithsisterandme，\"saidPattygently。\"Perhapssometime，whenmyfatherisawaybuyinggoodsandweareleftalone，youcouldjoinusinthewoods，andwewouldhaveapicnic？Wewouldbringenoughforyou；allsortsofgoodthings；hard—boiledeggs，doughnuts，apple—turnovers，andbreadspreadwithjelly。\"
\"I’dlikeitfine！\"exclaimedRodman，hisbigdarkeyessparklingwithanticipation。\"Idon’thavemanyboystoplaywith，andI
neverwenttoapicnicAuntBoyntonwatchesforuncle’mostallthetime；shedoesn’tknowhehasbeenawayforyearsandyears。
Whenshedoesn’twatch，sheprays。Sometimesshewantsmetopraywithher，butprayingdon’tcomeeasytome。\"
\"Neitherdoesittome，\"saidPatty。
\"I’mgoodatmarblesandcheckersandback—gammonandjack—straws，though。\"
\"SoamI，\"saidPatty，laughing，\"soweshouldbegoodfriends。
I’lltrytogetachancetoseeyousoonagain，butperhapsI
can’t；I’magooddealtiedathome。\"
\"Yourfatherdoesn’tlikeyoutogoany—wheres，Iguess，\"
interposedRodman。\"I’veheardIvorytellAuntBoyntonthings，butIwouldn’trepeatthem。Ivory’strainedmeyearsandyearsnottotellanything，soIdon’t。\"
\"That’sagoodboy！\"approvedPatty。Thenassheregardedhimmoreclosely，shecontinued，\"I’msorryyou’relonesome，Rodman，I’dliketoseeyoulookbrighter。\"
\"YouthinkI’vebeencrying，\"theboysaidshrewdly。\"SoIhave，butnotbecauseI’vebeenpunished。ThereasonmyeyesaresoswollenupisbecauseIkilledouroldtoadbymistakethismorning。IwastryingtoseeifIcouldswingthescytheso’stohelpIvoryinhaying—time。I’veonly’rakedafter’andIwanttobeginonmowingsoon’sIcan。Thensomehoworothertheoldtoadcameoutfromunderthesteps；Ididn’tseehim，andthescythehithimsquare。Icriedforanhour，that’swhatIdid，andI
don’tcarewhoknowsitexceptIwouldn’tliketheboysatschooltohectorme。I’veburiedthetoadoutbehindthebarn，andI
hopeIvory’llletmekeepthenewsfromAuntBoynton。Shecriesenoughnowwithoutmytellingherthere’sbeenadeathinthefamily。Shesetgreatstorebytheoldtoad，andsodidallofus。\"
\"It’stoobad；I’msorry，butafterallyoucouldn’thelpit。\"
\"No，butweshouldalwayslookroundevery—whereswhenwe’recutting；that’swhatIvorysays。Hesaysfolksshouldn’tuseedgedtoolstillthey’reoldenoughnottofoolwith’em。\"
AndRodmanlookedsowiseandold—fashionedforhisyearsthatPattydidnotknowwhethertokisshimorcryoverhim，asshesaid：\"Ivory’salwaysright，andnowgood—bye；Imustgothisveryminute。Don’tforgetthepicnic。\"
\"Iwon’t！\"criedtheboy，gazingafterher，whollyentrancedwithherbrightbeautyandherkindness。\"Say，I’llbringsomething，too，——white—oakacorns，ifyoulike’em；I’vegotabigbagfulupattic！\"
Pattyspeddownthelonglane，creptunderthebars，andflewlikealapwingoverthehigh—road。
\"Iffatherwasonlylikeanyoneelse，thingsmightbesodifferent！\"shesighed，herthoughtsrunningalongwithherfeet。
\"NobodytomakeahomeforthatpoorlonesomelittleboyandthatpoorlonesomebigIvory……IamsurethatheisinlovewithWaitstill。Hedoesn’tknowit；shedoesn’tknowit；nobodydoesbutme，butI’mcleveratguessing。IwastheonlyonethatsurmisedJedMorrillwasgoingtomarryagain……IshouldalmostlikeIvoryformyself，heissotallandhandsome，butofcoursehecannevermarryanybody；heistoopoorandhashismothertolookafter。Iwouldn’twanttotakehimfromWaity，though，andthenperhapsIcouldn’tgethim，anyway……IfI
couldn’t，he’dbetheonlyone！I’venevertriedyet，butIfeelinmybones，somehow，thatIcouldhaveanyboyinEdgewoodorRiverboro，byjustcrookingmyforefingerandbeckoningtohim……Iwish——Iwish——theyweredifferent！Theydon’tmakemewanttobeckontothem！Myforefingerjuststaysstraightanddoesn’tfeellikecrooking！……There’sCephasCole，buthe’sasstupidasanowl。Idon’twantahusbandthatkeepshismouthwideopenwheneverI’mtalking，nomatterwhetherit’ssenseornonsense。
There’sPhilPerry，buthelikesEllen，andbesideshe’stooseriousforme；andthere’sMarkWilson；he’sthebestdressed，andtheonlyonethat’sbeentocollege。Helooksatmeallthetimeinmeeting，andaskedmeifIwouldn’ttakeawalksomeSundayafternoon。IknowheplannedEllen’spartyhopingI’dbethere！——Goodnessgracious，Idobelievethatishishorsecomingbehindme！There’snootherinthevillagethatgoesatsuchagait！\"
Itwas，indeed，MarkWilson，whoalwaysdrove，accordingtoAuntAbbyCole，\"asifhewasgoin’foradoctor。\"HecaughtupwithPattyalmostinthetwinklingofaneye，butshewasreadyforhim。Shehadtakenoffhersunbonnetjusttotwirlitbythestring，shewassowarmwithwalking，andinajiffyshehadliftedtheclusteringcurlsfromherears，tuckedthembackwithasingleexpertmovement，anddisclosedtwocoralpendantsjustthecolorofherear—tipsandherglowingcheeks。
\"Hello，Patty！\"theyoungmancalled，inbrusquecountryfashion，ashereinedupbesideher。\"Whatareyoudoingoverhere？Whyaren’tyouonyourwaytotheparty？I’vebeenovertoLimingtonandambreakingmynecktogethomeintimemyself。\"
\"Iamnotgoing；therearenopartiesforme！\"saidPattyplaintively。
\"Notgoing！Oh！Isay，what’sthematter？Itwon’tbeabitoffunwithoutyou！EllenandImadeitupexpresslyforyou，thinkingyourfathercouldn’tobjecttoacandy—pull！\"
\"Ican’thelpit；IdidthebestIcould。Wait—stillalwaysasksfatherforme，butIwouldn’ttakeanychancesto—day，andI
spoketohimmyself；indeedIalmostcoaxedhim！\"
\"He’saregularoldskinflint！\"criedMark，gettingoutofthewagonandwalkingbesideher。
\"Youmustn’tcallhimnames，\"Pattyinterposedwithsomedignity。
\"Icallhimagoodmanymyself，butI’mhisdaughter。\"
\"Youdon’tlookit，\"saidMarkadmiringly。\"Comeandhavealittleride，Won’tyou？\"
\"Oh，Icouldn’tpossibly，thankyou。Someonewouldbesuretoseeus，andfather’ssostrict。\"
\"Thereisn’tabuildingforhalfamile！Justjumpinandhaveaspintillwecometothefirsthouse；thenI’llletyououtandyoucanwalktherestofthewayhome。Come，do，andmakeuptomealittleformydisappointment。I’llskipthecandy—pullifyousaytheword。\"
Itwasanincrediblybriefdrive，atMark’srateofspeed；andasexcitingandblissfulasitwasbriefanddangerous，Pattythought。Didsheimagineit，ordidMarkhelpherintothewagondifferentlyfrom——oldDr。Perry，forinstance？
Thefreshbreezeliftedthegoldthreadofhercurlsandgavehercheeksabrightercolor，whileherbreathcamefastthroughherpartedlipsandhereyessparkledattheunexpected，unaccustomedpleasure。Shefeltsogrownup，soconsciousofanewpowerasshesatenthronedonthelittlewagonseat（MarkWilsonalwayslikedhisbuggies\"courtin’size\"sotheneighborssaid），thatshewasalmostcourageousenoughtoagreetomakearoyalprogressthroughthevillage；almost，butnotquite。
\"Comeon，let’sshaketheoldtabbiesupandstart’emtalking，shallwe？\"Marksuggested。\"I’llgiveyouthereinsandletNerohaveaflickofthewhip。\"
\"No，I’drathernotdrive，\"shesaid。\"I’dbeafraidofthishorse，and，anyway，Imustgetoutthisveryminute；yes，I
reallymust。IfyouholdNeroIcanjustslipdownbetweenthewheels；youneedn’thelpme。\"
Markalightednotwithstandingherobjections，sayinggallantly，\"Idon’tmissthispleasure，notbyajugful！Comealong！Jump！\"
Pattystretchedoutherhandstobehelped，butMarkforestalledherbyputtinghisarmsaroundherandliftingherdown。Asecondoftimeonlywasinvolved，butinthatsecondheheld；hercloseandkissedherwarmcheek，hercheekthathadneverfeltthetouchofanylipsbutthoseofWaitstill。Shepulledhersunbonnetoverherflamingface，whileMark，withagaysmileoffarewell，sprangintothewagonandgavehishorseafreerein。
Pattyneverlookedupfromtheroad，butwalkedfasterandfaster，herheartbeatingatbreakneckspeed。Itwasachangedworldthatspunpasther；fright，triumph，shame，delight，agratifiedvanityswamoverherinturn。
Afewminuteslatersheheardoncemoretherumbleofwheelsontheroad。ItwasCephasColedrivingtowardsheroverthebrowofSacoHill。\"He’llhaveseenMark，\"shethought，\"buthecan’tknowI’vetalkedanddrivenwithhim。Ugh！howstupidandcommonhelooks！\"
\"Iheardyourfatherblowin’thesupper—hornjestasIcomeoverthebridge，\"remarkedCephas，drawingupintheroad。\"Hestoodinthedoor—yardblowin’likeBedlam。Iguessyou’relatetosupper。\"
\"I’llbehomeinafewminutes，\"saidPatty，\"Igotdelayedandamalittlebehindhand。\"
\"I’11turnrightroundifyou’11gitinandlemmetakeyouback—alongapiece；it’llsaveyouagoodfiveminutes，\"beggedCephas，abjectly。
\"Allright；muchobliged；butit’sagainsttherulesandyoumustdropmeatthefootofourhillandletmewalkup。\"
\"Certain；IknowtheDeacon’n’Iain’thuntin’fortroubleanymore’nyoube；thoughI’dtakeitquickenoughifyoujestgivemeleave！Iain’tnocowardan’IcouldtackletheDeaconto—morrowifsobeIhadanythingtoaskhim。\"
ThisseemedtoPattyalineofconversationdistinctlytobediscouragedunderallthecircumstances，andshetriedtokeepCephasonthesubjectofhisdailytasksandhismother’srheumatismuntilshecouldescapefromhisover—appreciativesociety。
\"Howdoyoulikemylastjob？\"heinquiredastheypassedhisfather’shouse。\"SomethinkI’vegottheellalittleditetooyaller。Folksthatain’tneverhandledabrushallersthinktheycanmixpaintbetter’nthemthatknowstheirtrade。\"
\"Ifyourobjectwastohaveeverybodyseetheellamileaway，you’vesucceeded，\"saidPattycruelly。Sheneverflungthepoorboyacivilwordforfearofgettingsomethingwarmerthancivilityinreturn。
\"It’lltonedown，\"Cephasresponded，rathercrestfallen。\"I
wantedagoodbrightlastin’shade。’Twon’tlooksoyallerwhenfatherletsmepaintthehousetomatch，butthatwon’tbetillnextyear。Hemakesfunoftheyallercolorsameasyou；saysahome’ssomethingyouwanttoforgetwhenyou’reawayfromit。
Mothersaysthetworoomsoftheellarebigenoughforsomebodytosetuphousekeepin’in。Whatdoyouthink？\"
\"Ineverthink，\"returnedPattywithatantalizinglaugh。
\"Good—night，Cephas；thankyouforgivingmealift！\"
VII
\"WHATDREAMSMAYCOME
SUPPERwasoverandtheworkdoneatlast；thedisheswashed，thebeansputinsoak，thehensshutupforthenight，themilkstrainedandcarrieddowncellar。PattywentuptoherlittleroomwiththeonewindowandtheslantingwallsandWaitstillfollowedandsaidgood—night。Herfatherputoutthelights，lockedthedoors，andcameupthecreakingstairs。Therewasneveranytalkbetweenthesistersbeforegoingtobed，saveonnightswhentheirfatherwaslateatthestore，usuallyonSaturdaysonly，forthegoodtalkersofthevillage，aswellasthegossipsandloafers，preferredanyotherplacetoswapstoriesthanthebleakatmosphereprovidedbyoldFoxyathisplaceofbusiness。
Pattycouldthinkinthedark；herhealthyyoungbodylyingnotuncomfortablyonthebedofcornhusks，andthepatchworkcomforterdrawnupunderherchin。Shecouldthink，butforthefirsttimeshecouldnottellherthoughtstoWaitstill。Shehadasecret；adazzlingsecret，justlikeEllenWilsonandsomeoftheothergirlswhowereseveralyearsolder。Herafternoon’sexperienceloomedaslargeinherinnocentmindasifithadbeenanelopement。
\"IhopeI’mnotengagedtobemarriedtohim，EVENIFHEDID——\"
Thesentencewastootremendoustobefinished，eveninthought。
\"Idon’tthinkIcanbe；menmustsurelysaysomething，andnottakeitforgrantedyouareinlovewiththemandwanttomarrythem。ItiswhattheysaywhentheyaskthatIshouldlikemuchbetterthanbeingmarried，whenI’monlyjustpastseventeen。I