wishMarkwasalittledifferent；Idon’tlikehiscarelessways！
Headmiresme，Icantellone；thatbythewayhelooks，butheadmireshimselfjustasmuch，andexpectsmetodothesame；
still，Isupposenoneofthemareperfect，andgirlshavetoforgivelotsoflittlethingswhentheyareengaged。Mothermusthaveforgivenagoodmanythingswhenshetookfather。Anyway，Markisgoingawayforamonthonbusiness，soIshan’thavetomakeupmymindjustyet！\"Heresleepdescendedupontheslightlypuzzled，butonthewholedelightfullycomplacent，littlecreature，bringinghermostalluringanduntrustworthydreams。
Thedearinnocenthad，indeed，noneedofhaste！YoungMr。
MarquisdeLafayetteWilson，Markforshort，wasnotintheleastagaydeceiverorruthlessbreakerofhearts，and，sofarasknown，noscalpsofvillagebeautieswerehungtohisbelt。Hewasalikable，light—weightyoungchap，asindolentandpleasure—lovingasthestrictcustomsofthecommunitywouldpermit；andakiss，inhismind，mostcertainlyneverwouldleadtothealtar，elsehehadalreadybeenmanytimesabridegroom。MissPatienceBaxter’smaidenmeditationsanduncertaintiesandperplexities，therefore，weredecidedlypremature。Shewasanatural—born，unconsciouslyartistic，highlyexpert，andfinishedcoquette。Shewasallthisatseventeen，andMarkattwenty—fourwasbynomeansamatchforherinthisfieldofeffort，yet！——butsometimes，ingettinghervictimintothenet，thecoquettelosesherbalanceandfallsinherself。Therewasn’tabitofharminMarquisdeLafayette，buthewasextremelyagileinkeepingoutofnets！
Waitstillwasrestless，too，thatnight，althoughshecouldnothavetoldthereason。Sheopenedherwindowatthebackofthehouseandleanedout。Theeveningwasmildwithasoftwindblowing。Shecouldhearthefullbrookdashingthroughtheedgeofthewood—lot，andeventhe\"ker—chug\"ofanoccasionalbull—frog。Thereweregreatmistystarsinthesky，butnomoon。
TherewasnolightinAuntAbbyCole’skitchen，butafaintglimmershonethroughthewindowsofUncleBart’sjoiner’sshop，showingthattheoldmanwaseitherhavinganhourofpeacefulcontemplationwithnocompanionbuthispipe，orthattheremightbealittlegroupofprivilegedvisitors，headedbyJedMorrill，busilydiscussingtheaffairsofthenation。
Waitstillfelttroubledandanxiousto—night；bruisedbythelittledailytormentsthatlessenedhercouragebutneverwhollydestroyedit。Anyonewhobelievedimplicitlyinhereditymighthavebeenpuzzled，perhaps，toaccountforher。Hemightfantasticallypictureherasmakingherselfoutofherancestors，usingafreehand，pickingandchoosingwhatshelikedbest，withduecarefortheeffectofcombinations；selectinghereandthereandmodifying，ifadvisable，atraitofGrandpaorGrandmaFoxwell，ofGreat—UncleorGreat—AuntBaxter；borrowingqualitieslavishlyfromherowngentlybornandgentlybredmother，andcarefullyavoidingherrespectedfather’sStock，except，perhaps，totakeadashofhispluckandanounceofhispersistence。JedMorrillremarkedofDeaconBaxteronce：\"WhenOldFoxywantsanythinghe’11waittillhellfreezesoveraforehe’llgiveup。\"
Waitstillhadherfather’sfirmchin，buttherethelikenessended。Theproudcurveofhernostrils，theclearwell—openedeyewithitsdeepfringeoflashes，theearnestmouth，allthesecamefromthemotherwhowaslittlemorethanadimmemory。
Waitstilldisdainedanyvague，dreary，colorlesstheoryoflifeanditsmeaning。Shehadjoinedthechurchatfifteen，moreorlessbecauseothergirlsdidandtheparsonhadpersuadedher；
butoutofherhardlifeshehadsomehowframedacourageousphilosophythatkepthererectanduncrushed，nomatterhowgreatherdifficulties。Shehadnoideaofbringingapoor，weak，draggledsoultoherMakeratthelastday，saying\"HereisallI
havemanagedtosaveoutofwhatyougaveme！\"Thatwouldbesomething，sheallowed，immeasurablysomething；butpitifulcomparedwithwhatshemightdoifshecouldkeepabrave，vigorousspiritandmarchtothelasttribunalstrengthenedbybattles，struggles，defeats，victories；bythedefenseofweakerhumancreatures，aboveall，warmedandvitalizedbythepouringoutandgatheringinoflove。
Pattysleptsweetlyontheothersideofthepartition，thecontemplationofhertwopennytriumphsbringingasmiletoherchildishlips：butevensoagoodheartwasthere（stillperhapsintheprocessofmaking），aquickwit，readysympathy，naturalcharm；plenty，indeed，forthestrongersistertocherish，protect，andholdprecious，asshedid，withallhermindandsoul。
TherehadalwaysbeenapassionateloyaltyinWaitstill’saffection，whereverithadbeenbestowed。UncleBartdelightedintellinganinstanceofitthatoccurredwhenshewasachildoffive。Mainehadjustseparatedamicablyfromhermother，Massachusetts，andbecomeanindependentstate。ItwasinthemiddleofMarch，buttherewasnosnowonthegroundandthevillageboyshadbuiltabonfireonaplotoflandnearUncleBart’sjoiner’sshop。TherewasalargegatheringincelebrationofthehistoriceventandWaitstillcreptdownthehillwithherhomemaderagdollinherarms。Shestoodontheoutskirtsofthecrowd，asilent，absorbedlittlefigurecladinashabbywoollencoat，withablueknithoodframingherrosyface。Deborah，herbeloved，heronlydoll，wastightlyclaspedinherarms，forDebby，likeherparent，hadfewpleasuresandmustnotbedeniedsogreataoneasthis。Suddenly，oneofthethoughtlessyoungscampsinthegroup，wishingtocreateanewsensationandaddtothegeneralexcitement，caughtthedollfromthechild’sarms，andrunningforwardwithaloudwar—whoop，flungitintotheflames。Waitstilldidnotloseaninstant。ShegaveascreamOfanguish，andwithoutgivinganywarningofherintentions，probablywithoutrealizingthemherself，shedashedthroughthelittlecrowdintothebonfireandsnatchedhercherishedoffspringfromtheburningpile。Thewholethingwasoverinthetwinklingofaneye，forUncleBartwasasquickasthechildanddraggedheroutoftheimminentdangerwithnoworseharmdonethanagoodscorching。
Heledthelittlecreatureupthehilltoexplainmattersandprotectherfromascolding。Shestillheldthedollagainstherheavingbreast，saying，betweenhersobs：\"Icouldn’tletmyDebbyburnup！Icouldn’t，UncleBart；she’sgotnobodybutme！
IsmydressscorchedsomuchIcan’twearit？You’11tellfatherhowitwas，UncleBart，won’tyou？\"
Debbyborethemarksofheradventurelongerthanherowner，forshehadbeenlongerinthefire，but，stainedanddefacedasshewas，shewasneverreplaced，andremainedtheonlydollofWaitstill’schildhood。Atthisverymomentshelaysoftlyandsafelyinabureaudrawerreadytobeliftedout，sometime，Waitstillfancied，andshowntenderlytoPatty’schildren。Ofherownpossiblechildrensheneverthought。Therewasbutonemanintheworldwhocouldeverbethefatherofthemandshewasseparatedfromhimbyeveryobstaclethatcoulddividetwohumanbeings。
SUMMER
VIII
THEJOINER’SSHOP
VILLAGE\"Aunts\"and\"Uncles\"wereelectedtothatrelationshipbythecommonconsentofthecommunity；theirfitnessbeingestablishedbygreatage，bydecidedindividualityoreccentricityofcharacter，byuncommonlovableness，orbythepossessionofanabundantwitandhumor。Therewasnoformalityaboutthething；certainwomenwerealwayscalled\"AuntSukie，\"
or\"AuntHitty，\"orwhatnot，whilecertainmenweredistinguishedas\"UncleRish，\"or\"UnclePel，\"withoutpreviousarrangement，ortheconsentofthehighcontractingparties。
SuchacouplewereCephasCole’sfatherandmother，AuntAbbyandUncleBart。BartholomewCole’stradewasthatofajoiner；asforAuntAbby’s，itcanonlybesaidthatshemadealltradesherownbysovereignrightofinvestigation，andwhatshedidnotknowaboutherneighbor’soccupationswasunlikelytohediscoveredonthissideofJordan。OneofthevillagersdeclaredthatAuntAbbyandherneighbor，Mrs。AbelDay，hadarguedforanhourbeforetheycouldmakeabargainaboutthemethodofdisseminatingacertainimportantpieceofnews，theirsbyexclusiverightofdiscoveryandpriorpossession。Mrs。DayofferedtogiveMrs。
ColetheprivilegeofSacoHillandAuntBetty—Jack’s，sheherselftotakeGuide—BoardandTown—HouseHills。AuntAbbyquicklyprovedtheinjusticeofthisdecision，sayingthatthereweretwiceasmanyfamilieslivinginMrs。Day’schosenterritoryastherewereinthatallottedtoher，sotheriverroadtoMilliken’sMillswasgrudginglyawardedtoAuntAbbybywayofcompromise，andtheladiesstartedonwhatwasatourofmercyinthosedays，thefurnishingofasubjectofdiscussionforlong，quietevenings。
UncleBart’sjoiner’sshopwasatthefootofGuide—BoardHillontheRiverborosideofthebridge，anditwasthepleasantestspotinthewholevillage。Theshopitselfhadacheerylook，withitsweather—stainedshingles，itssmallsquarewindows，anditshospitabledoor，halfasbigasthefrontsideofthebuilding。
Thestepwasanoldmillstonetoowornforactiveservice，andthepilesofchipsandshavingsoneachsideofithadbeenthereforsomanyyearsthatsweet—williams，clovepinks，andpurplephloxweregrowinginamongtheminthemostirresponsiblefashion；whileamorning—gloryvinehadcreptupandcurledaroundalong—handledrakethathadbeenstandingagainstthefrontofthehousesinceearlyspring。TherewasanairofcosyandamiabledisorderabouttheplacethatwouldhaveinvitedfriendlyconfabulationevenhadnotUncleBart’swhitehead，honest，ruddyface，andsmilingwelcomecoaxedyouinbeforeyouwereaware。AfineNodheadappletreeshadedthesidewindows，andunderneathitreposedallsummerabrightbluesleigh，forUncleBartalwaysdescribedhimselfasbeing\"plaguedforshedroom\"andkeptthingsashelikedattheshop，havinga\"p’isonneat\"wifewhodidexactlytheoppositeathishouse。
Theseatofthesleighwasallwhitenowwithscatteredfruitblossoms，andoneofWaitstill’searliestremembranceswasofgoingdownhillwithPattytoddlingatherside；ofUncleBart’sliftingthemintothesleighandpermittingthemtositthereandeattheriperedapplesthathadfallenfromthetree。UncleBart’sson，Cephas（Patty’ssecretadorer），wasapainterbytrade，andkepthispotsandcansandbrushesinalittleouthouseattheback，whileUncleBarthimselfstoodeverydaybehindhislongjoiner’sbenchalmostknee—deepinshavings。Howthechildrenlovedtoplaywiththewhite，satinyrings，makingthemintonecklaces，hangingthemtotheirearsandweavingthemintowreaths。
Wonderfulhousescouldalwaysbebuiltinthecorneroftheshop，outofthelittleoddsandendsand\"nubbins\"ofwhitepine，andUncleBartwaseverreadytocutorsawaspecialpieceneededforsomegreatpurpose。
Thesoundoftheplanewassweetmusicintheoldjoiner’sears。
\"Idon’thardlyknowhowI’damadeoutifI’dhadtoworkinamill，\"hesaidconfidentiallytoCephas。\"Thenoiseofasawgoin’allday，coupledwithyourmother’stonguemornin’san’
evenin’s，would’a’beentoomuchformyweakhead。I’maquietman，Cephas，amanthatneedsapeacefulshopwherehecangetawayfromthecomfortsofhomenowandthen，withoutshirkin’hisdutynorcausin’gossip。Ifyoushouldevermarry，Cephas，——whichdon’tlooktomelikelywithoutyoupickoutadif’rentgirl，——I
’dadviseyounottokeepyourstocko’paintsinthebarnortheshed，forit’saltogethertoohandytothehouseandthewomen—folks。Takemyadviceandhaveaplacetoyourself，evenifit’sasmallone。Ashoporabarnhassavedmanyaman’slifeandreasonCephas，forit’sag’in’awoman’snaturetohaveyouunderfootinthehousewithouthectorin’you。Chooseagirlsame’syouwouldahorsethatyouwanttohitchupintoaspan；
’tain’teverytwothat’llstan’togetherwithoutkickin’。Whenyougettherightgirl，keepoutofherwayconsid’ablean’
there’llbelesswearan’tear。\"
ItwasJuneandthecountrysidewassobeautifulitseemedasifnoonecouldbeunhappy，howevergreatthecause。ThatwaswhatWaitstillBaxterthoughtasshesatdownonthemillstonestepforawordwiththeoldjoiner，herbestandmostunderstandingfriendinallthevillage。
\"I’vecometodomymendingherewithyou，\"shesaidbrightly，asshetookoutherwell—filledbasketandthreadedherneedle。
\"Isn’titawonderfulmorning？Nobodycouldlooktheworldinthefaceanddoawrongthingonsuchaday，couldthey，UncleBart？\"
Themeadowswereawavingmassofgoldenbuttercups；theshallowwaterattheriver’sedgejustbelowtheshopwasbluewithspikesofarrow—weed；abunchoffragrantwater—lilies，gatheredfromthemill—pond’supperlevels，laybesideWaitstill’smending—basket，andeveryfootofroadsideandfieldwithinsightwasswayingwithlong—stemmedwhiteandgolddaisies。TheJunegrass，thefriendly，humble，companionablegrass，thatnooneeverpraisesastheydotheflowers，wasarichemeraldgreen，avelvetcarpetfitforthefeetoftheangelsthemselves。Andtheelmsandmaples！Wasthereeversuchayearforrichnessoffoliage？Andthesky，wasiteversoblueorsoclear，sofaraway，orsocompletelylikeheaven，asyoulookedatitsreflectionintheglassysurfaceoftheriver？
\"Yes，it’saprettygoodday，\"allowedUncleBartjudiciallyashetookasquintathisT—square。\"Idon’know’sIshouldwanttostartoutan’trytobeatit！TheLordcanmakeagoodmanykindso’weatherinthecourseofayear，butwhenHeputshismindontoit，an’kindo’givesHimselfafreehand，HecanturnoutaJunemorningthatmustmaketheDevilsicktohisstomachwithenvy！Allthesame，Waity，mycowain’tbehavin’herselfanybetter’nusual。She’sbeenrampagin’sincesun—up。I’veseenmotherchasin’herouto’Mis’Day’sgarden—patchtwicea’ready！——Itseemsrealgoodan’homeytoseeyousettin’theresewin’whileI’mworkin’atthebench。Cephasisdowntothestore，soIs’poseyourfather’soffsomewheres？\"
PerhapstheJunegrasswasalittlegreener，thebuttercupsyellower，thefoliagemorelacey，theskybluer，becauseDeaconBaxterhadtakenhisluncheoninapailunderthewagonseat，anddepartedonanunwillingjourneytoModeration，hisobjectbeingtopressthecollectionofsomeaccountstoolongoverdue。Therewassomethingtragicinthefact，Waitstillthought，thatwheneverherfatherleftthevillageforawholeday，lifeatoncegrewbrighter，easier，morehopeful。Onecouldbreathefreely，speakone’sheartout，believeinthefuture，whenfatherwasaway。
Thegirlshadharboredmanydelightfulplansatearlybreakfast。
AsitwasSaturday，PattycouldcatchlittleRodBoynton，ifhecametothebridgeonerrandsasusual；andifIvorycouldsparehimforanhouratnoontheywouldtaketheirluncheonandeatittogetherontheriver—bankasPattyhadpromisedhim。Atthelastmoment，however，DeaconBaxterhadturnedaroundinthewagonandsaid：\"Patience，yougodowntothestoreandhavearegularhouse—cleanin’inthestock—room。GitCephastoliftwhatyoucan’tliftyourself，moveeverythingintheplace，sweepanddustit，scrubthefloor，washthewinder，andmakeroomforthenewstuffthatthey’11bringupfromMill—town’boutnoon。Ifyouhaveanytimeleftover，putnewpapersontheshelvesoutfront，andcleanupandfixtheshowwinder。Don’tstandroundgabbin’
withCephas，andsee’thedon’twastetimethat’spaidforbyme。
Tellhimhemightcleanuptheterbaccerstainsroundthestove，blackit，andcoveritupforthesummerifheain’ttoobusyservin’cust’mers。\"
\"Thewholedayspoiled！\"wailedPatty，flingingherselfdowninthekitchenrocker。\"Father’spowersofinventionbeatanythingI
eversaw！
Thatstock—roomcouldhavebeencleanedanytimethismonthandit’stooheavyworkformeanyway；itspoilsmyhands，grubbingaroundthosenasty，sticky，splinteryboxesandbarrels。Insteadofbeingoutofdoors，I’vegottobeshutupinthatsmelly，rummy，tobacco—y，salt—fishy，peppermintyplacewithCephasCole！
Hewon’thaveapleasantmorning，Icantellyou！Ishallsnaphisheadoffeverytimehespeakstome。\"
\"SoIwould！\"Waitstillansweredcomposedly。\"EverythingissoclearlyhisfaultthatIcertainlywouldworkoffmytemperonCephas！Still，Icanthinkofawaytomakematterscomeoutright。I’vegotagreatbasketofmendingthatmustbedone，andyourememberthere’sachoirrehearsalforthenewanthemthisafternoon，butanywayIcanhelpalittleonthecleaning。ThenyoucanmakeRodmandoafewoftheoddjobs，itwillbeanoveltytohim；andCephaswillworkhisfingerstotheboneforyou，asyouwellknow，ifyoutreathimlikeahumanbeing。\"
\"Allright！\"criedPattyjoyously，hermoodchanginginaninstant。\"There’sRodcomingoverthebridgenow！Tossmemyginghamapronandthescrubbing—brush，andthepail，andthetinofsoftsoap，andthecleaningcloths；let’ssee，thebroom’sdownthere，soI’vegoteverything。IfIwaveatowelfromthestore，packupluncheonforthree。Youcomedownandbringyourmending；then，whenyouseehowI’mgettingon，wecanconsult。
I’mgoingtotakethetencentsI’vesavedandspenditinraisins。IcangetagoodmanyifCephasgivesmewholesaleprice，withfamilydiscountsubstractedfromthat。Cephaswouldtreatmetocandyinaminute，butifIlethimwe’dhavetoaskhimtothepicnic！Good—bye！\"Andthevolatilecreaturedarteddownthehillsinging，\"There’llbesomethinginheavenforchildrentodo，\"atthetopofherhealthyyounglungs。
IX
CEPHASSPEAKS
THEwavingsignal，alittlelateron，showedthatRodmancouldgotothepicnic，thefactbeingthathewashavingaholidayfromeleveno’clockuntiltwo，andIvorywasgoingtodrivetothebridgeatnoon，anyway，sohispermissioncouldthenbeasked。
Patty’smindmighthavebeenthoughtentirelyonheruglytaskasshesweptanddustedandscrubbedthatmorning，butthereversewastrue。MarkWilsonhadgoneawaywithoutsayinggood—byetoher。Thiswasnotsurprising，perhaps，asshewasaboutasmuchsequesteredinherhilltopprisonasaTurkishbeautyinaharem；
neitherwasitastonishingthatMarkdidnotwritetoher。Heneverhadwrittentoher，andasherfatheralwaysbroughthometheveryinfrequentlettersthatcametothefamily，Markknewthatanysentimentalcorrespondencewouldbefraughtwithdanger。
No，everythingwasprobablyjustasitshouldbe，andyet，——well，Pattyhadexpectedduringthelastthreeweeksthatsomethingwouldhappentobreakupthemonotonyofherformerexistence。
Shehardlyknewwhatitwouldbe，butthekissdroppedsolightlyonhercheekbyMarkWilsonstillburnedinremembrance，andmadehersurethatitwouldhaveasequel，oranexplanation。
Mark’ssisterEllenandPhilPerrywereinthemidstofsomeformoflover’squarrel，andduringitsprogressPhilwaspayingconsiderableattentiontoPattyatSabbathSchoolandprayer—meeting，occasions，itmustbeconfessed，onlyprovocativeofveryindirectandlong—distanceadvances。CephasCole，totheamazementofeveryonebuthis（constitutionally）exasperatedmother，was\"toningdown\"theellofthefamilymansion，mitigatingthelivelyyellow，andputtinganotherfreshcoatofpaintonit，fornoconceivablereasonsavethatofpleasingtheeyeofacertaincapricious，ungratefulyounghussy，whowouldprobablysay，whenherverdictwasasked，thatshedidn’tseeanyparticulardifferenceinit，onewayoranother。
TradewasnotespeciallybriskattheDeacon’semporiumthissunnyJuneSaturdaymorning。CephasmayhavepossiblylostacustomerortwobyleavingthestorevacantwhilehetoiledandsweatedforMissPatienceBaxterinthestockroomattheback，overhangingtheriver，butnomanalivecouldseehisemployer’slovelydaughtertuggingatakegofshinglenailswithouttryingtosaveherfromabrokenback，althoughCephascouldhavewatchedhismothermovethehouseandbarnwithoutfeelingtheslightestanxietyinherbehalf。Ifhecouldevergetthe\"heft\"
ofthe\"doggoned\"cleaningoutofthewaysothatPatty’smindcouldbefreetoentertainhisproposition；couldeversecureonepreciousmomentofsilencewhenshewasnotslattingandbanging，pushingandpullingthingsabout，herheadandearsoutofsightunderashelf，andanirritatingairofabsorptionaboutherwholedemeanor；ifthatmomentofsilencecouldever，underProvidence，besimultaneouswiththeabsenceofcustomersinthefrontshop，CephasintendedtoofferhimselftoPatienceBaxterthatverymorning。
Once，duringatemporarylullintherear，hestartedtomeethisfatewhenRodmanBoyntonfollowedhimintothebackroom，andtheboywasatoncesettoworkbyPatty，whowasthemostconsummateslave—driverintheStateofMaine。AfterhalfanhourtherewasanotherHeavensentchance，whenRodmanwentuptoUncleBart’sshopwithamessageforWaitstill，but，justthen，incameBillMorrill，aboyoftwelve，witharequestforagallonofmolasses；andwouldCephaslendhimastonejugoverSunday，forhismotherhadherssoakin’outinsoap—suds’cause’twa’n’tsmellin’jestright。Bill’smessagegiven，hehurrieduptheroadonanothererrand，promisingtocallforthemolasseslater。
Cephasputthegallonmeasureunderthespigotofthemolasseshogsheadandturnedonthetap。Thetaskwasgoingtobealongoneandhegrewimpatient，forthestreamwasonlyaslendertrickle，scarcelymorethantheslowdrippingofdrops，sothemolassesmustbeveryneverlow，andwithhismindfullofweightieraffairshemustmakeanotetotelltheDeacontobroachanewhogshead。Cephasfearedthathecouldnevermakeoutafullgallon，inwhichcaseMrs。Morrillwouldbevexed，forshekeptmillboardersandbakedquantitiesofbrownbreadandgingerbreadandmolassescookiesforoverSunday。Hedidwishtradewouldlanguishaltogetheronthisparticularmorning。Theminutesdraggedbyandagaintherewasperfectquietinthestock—room。Asthedooropened，Cephas，takinghislastchance，wentforwardtomeetPatty，whowasturningdowntheskirtofherdress，takingtheclothoffherhead，smoothingherhair，andtyingonacleanwhiteruffedapron，inwhichshelookedasprettyasapink。
\"Patty！\"stammeredCephas，seizinghisgoldenopportunity，\"Patty，keepyourmindonmeforaminute。I’veputanewcoato’
paintontheelljusttopleaseyou；won’tyougetmarriedandsettledownwithme？IloveyousoIcan’teatnordrinknor’tendstorenornothin’！\"
\"Oh，I——I——couldn’t，Cephas，thankyou；Ijustcouldn’t，——don’taskme，\"criedPatty，asnervousasCephashimselfnowthatherfirstofferhadreallycome；\"I’monlyseventeenandIdon’tfeellikesettlingdown，Cephas，andfatherwouldn’tthinkoflettingmegetmarried。\"
\"Don’tplaytricksonme，Patty，andkeepshovin’meoffso，an’
givin’wrongreasons，\"pleadedCephas。\"What’sthetroublewithme？Iknowmother’stemper’sonsartain，butweneverneedgointothemainhousedaytimesandfather’dallersstandupag’in’herifshedidn’ttreatyouright。I’vegotagoodtradeandfatherhasahundreddollarso’mysavin’sthatIcandrawoutto—morrerifyou’llhaveme。\"
\"Ican’t，Cephas；don’tmove；staywhereyouare；no，don’tcomeanynearer；I’mnotfondofyouthatway，and，besides，——and，besides—\"
HerblushandherevidentembarrassmentgaveCephasanewfear。
\"Youain’tpromiseda’ready，beyou？\"heaskedanxiously；\"whenthereain’tafelleranywheresaroundthat’seversteppedfootoveryourfather’sdoorsillbutjestme？\"
\"Ihaven’tpromisedanythingoranybody，\"
Pattyansweredsedately，gainingherself—controlbydegrees，\"butIwon’tdenythatI’mconsidering；that’strue！\"
\"Considerin’who？\"askedCephas，turningpale。
\"Oh，——SEVERAL，ifyoumustknowthetruth\"；andPatty’stonewascruelinitsjauntiness。
\"SEVERAL！\"Theworddidnotsoundlikeordinarywork—a—dayRiverboroEnglishinCephas’sears。Heknewthat\"several\"meantmorethanone，buthewastoostunnedtodefinethetermproperlyinitspresentstrangeconnection。
\"Whoever’tiswouldn’tdoanybetterbyyou’nIwould。I’dtakealickin’foryouanyday，\"Cephasexclaimedabjectly，afteralongpause。
\"Thatwouldn’tmakeanydifference，Cephas，\"saidPattyfirmly，movingtowardsthefrontdoorasiftoendtheinterview。\"IfI
don’tloveyouUNlicked，Icouldn’tloveyouanybetterlicked，now，couldI？——Goodnessgracious，whatamIsteppingin？Cephas，quick！Somethinghasbeenrunningalloverthefloor。Myfeetarestickingtoit。\"
\"GoodGosh！It’sMis’Morrill’smolasses！\"criedCephas，broughttohissensessuddenly。
Itwastootrue！Whateverhadbeenthesmallobstructioninthetap，ithaddisappeared。Thegallonmeasurehadbeenfilledtothebrimtenminutesbefore，andeversince，thetreaclyliquidhadbeenoverflowingthetopandspreadinginabrownflood，unnoticed，overthefloor。Patty’sfeetweregluedtoit，herbuffcalicoskirtsliftedhightoescapeharm。
\"Ican’tmove，\"shecried。\"Oh！Youstupid，stupidCephas，howcouldyouleavethemolassesspigotturnedon？Seewhatyou’vedone！You’vewastedquartsandquarts！Whatwillfathersay，andhowwillyouevercleanupsuchamess？Younevercangetthefloortolooksothathewon’tnoticeit，andheissuretomissthemolasses。You’veruinedmyshoes，andIsimplycan’tbearthesightofyou！\"