AtthisCephasallbutblubberedintheagonyofhissoul。ItwasbadenoughtobetoldbyPattythatshewas\"consideringseveral，\"buthisfirstromancehadendedinsuchcompletedisasterthathesawinavisionhislifeblasted；changedinonebriefmomentfromthatofaprosperousyoungpaintertothatofablightedanddespisedbungler，whoseweek’swageswerelikelytobeexpendedinmolassestomakegoodtheDeacon’sloss。
\"Findthosecleaning—clothsIleftinthehackroom，\"orderedPattywithaflashingeye。\"Getsomeblocks，orbitsofboard，orstones，formetowalkon，sothatIcangetoutofyournastymess。FillBillMorrill’sjug，quick，andsetitoutonthestepsforhimtopickup。Idon’tknowwhatyou’ddowithoutmetoplanforyou！Lockthefrontdoorandhangfather’ssignthathe’sgonetodinneronthedoorknob。Scoopupallthemolassesyoucanwithoneofthosenewtrowelsonthecounter。Scoop，andscrape，andscoop，andscrape；thenputaclothonyouroldestbroom，pourlotsofwateron，pailafterpail，andswab！Whenyou’veswabbedtillitwon’tdoanymoregood，thenscrub！Afterthat，I
shouldn’twonderifyouhadtofanthefloorwithanewspaperorit’llnevergetdrybeforefathercomeshome。I’llsitontheflourbarrelalittlewhileandadvise，butIcan’tstaylongbecauseI’mgoingtoapicnic。Hurryupanddon’tlookasifyouweregoingtodieanyminute！It’snousecryingoverspiltmolasses。Youdon’tsupposeI’mgoingtotellanytalesafteryou’vemademeanofferofmarriage，doyou？I’mnotsomeanasallthat，thoughImayhavemyfaults。\"
Itwasnearlytwoo’clockbeforethecardannouncingDeaconBaxter’sabsenceatdinnerwasremovedfromthefrontdoorknob，andwhenthestorewasfinallyreopenedforbusinessitwasamostdejectedclerkwhodealtoutgroceriestothepublic。Theworstfeatureoftheaffairwasthateveryoneinthetwovillagessuddenlyandcontemporaneouslywantedmolasses，sothatCephasspenttheafternoonreviewinghismiserybycontinuallyturningthetapanddrawingoffthefatalliquid。Then，too，everyinquisitiveboyintheneighborhoodcametothebackofthestoretoviewtheoperation，exclaiming：\"Whatmakesthefloorsowet？Hain’tbeenspillin’molasses，haveyer？Betyerhave！GoodjokeonOldFoxy！\"
X
ONTORYHILL
Ithadbeenaheavenlypicnicthelittletrioallagreedastothat；andwhenIvorysawtheBaxtergirlscominguptheshadypaththatledalongtheriverfromtheIndianCellartothebridge，itwasamerrygroupandatransfiguredRodmanthatcaughthiseye。Theboy，trailingonbehindwiththebasketsandladenwithtindippersandwildflowers，seemedanothercreaturefromthebig—eyed，quietlittleladhesaweveryday。Hehadchatteredlikeamagpie，eatenlikeabear，istornhisjacketgettingwildcolumbinesforPatty，beennicelydarnedbyWaitstill，andwasinastateofhilaritythatrenderedhimquiteunrecognizable。
\"We’vehadalovelypicnic！\"calledPatty；\"Iwishyouhadbeenwithus！\"
\"Youdidn’taskme！\"smiledIvory，pickingupWaitstill’smending—basketfromthenookinthetreeswhereshehadhiddenitforsafe—keeping。
\"We’veplayedgames，Ivory，\"criedtheboy。’Pattymadethemupherself。Firstwehadthe’LandingofthePilgrims，’andWaitstillmadebelievebethefigureheadoftheMayflower。Shestoodonagreatboulderandsang：——
’ThebreakingwavesdashedhighOnasternandrock—boundcoast’——
and，oh！shewassplendid！ThenPattywasPocahontasandIwasCap’nJohnSmith，andlook，wearealldressedupfortheIndianwedding！\"
Waitstillhadonacrownofwhitebirchbarkandherbraidofhair，twinedwithrunningever—green，felltoherwaist。Pattywaswreathedwithcolumbinesanddeckedwithsometurkeyfeathersthatshehadputinherbasketastooprettytothrowaway。
Waitstilllookedratherconsciousinherunusualfinery，butPattysporteditwiththerecklesseaseandinnocentvanitythatcharacterizedher。
\"Ishallhavetorunintofather’sstoretoputmyselftidy，\"
Waitstillsaid，\"sogood—bye，Rodman，we’llhaveanotherpicnicsomeday。Patty，youmustdothechoresthisafternoon，youknow，sothatIcangotochoirrehearsal，\"
RodmanandPattystartedupthehillgaylywiththeirburdens，andIvorywalkedbyWaitstill’ssideasshepulledoffherbirch—barkcrownandtwistedherbraidaroundherheadwithaheightenedcoloratbeingwatched。
\"I’11saygood—byenow，Ivory，butI’11seeyouatthemeeting—house，\"shesaid，asshenearedthestore。\"I’llgoinhereandbrushthepineneedlesoff，washmyhands，andrestalittlebeforerehearsal。That’sapuzzlinganthemwehaveforto—morrow。\"
\"Ihavemyhorsehere；letmedriveyouuptothechurch。\"
\"Ican’t，Ivory，thankyou。Father’sordersareagainstmydrivingoutwithanyone，youknow。\"
\"Verywell，theroadisfree，atanyrate。I’llhitchmyhorsedownhereinthewoodssomewhereandwhenyoustarttowalkI
shallfollowandcatchupwithyou。There’sluckilyonlyonewaytoreachthechurchfromhere，andyourfathercan’tblameusifwebothtakeit！\"
AndsoitfelloutthatIvoryandWaitstillwalkedtogetherinthecooloftheafternoontothemeeting—houseonToryHill。
WaitstillkeptthebeatenpathononesideandIvorythatontheother，sothatthewidthofthecountryroad，deepindust，wasbetweenthem，yettheirnearnessseemedsotangibleathingthateachcouldfeeltheheartbeatingintheother’sside。
Theirtalkwasonlythatoftriedfriends，atalkinterruptedbylongbeautifulsilences；silencesthatcomeonlytoamanandwomanwhoseunderstandingofeachotherisbeyondquestionandanswer。Notasoundbrokethestillness，yettheveryair，itseemedtothem，wassheddingmeanings：theflowerswereexhalingalovesecretwiththeirfragrances，thebirdsweresingingitboldlyfromthetree—tops，yetnowordpassedtheman’slipsorthegirl’s。PattywouldhavehungoutallsortsofsignalsandlurestodrawthetruthfromIvoryandbreakthroughthewallsofhisself—control，butWaitstill，never；andIvoryBoyntonwasmadeofstuffsostrongthathewouldnotspeakasyllableoflovetoawomanunlesshecouldsayall。Hewasonlyfive—and—twenty，buthehadbeenrearedinarigorousschool，andhadlearnedinitspoverty，loneliness，andanxietylessonsofself—denialandself—controlthatboredailyfruitnow。HeknewthatDeaconBaxterwouldneverallowanyengagementtoexistbetweenWaitstillandhimself；healsoknewthatWaitstillwouldneverdefyanddisobeyherfatherifitmeantleavingheryoungersistertofightaloneadrearybattleforwhichshewasnotfitted。Iftherewaslittlehopeonhersidethereseemedevenlessonhis。Hismother’smentalillnessmadeherpeculiarlydependentuponhim，andatthesametimeheldhiminsuchstrictbondagethatitwasalmostimpossibleforhimtogetonintheworldoreventogiveherthecomfortssheneeded。InvillageslikeRiverborointhoseearlydaystherewasnoputtingaway，evenofmenorwomensodementedastobesomethingofamenacetothepeaceofthehousehold；butLoisBoyntonwassogentle，sofragile，soexquisiteaspirit，thatsheseemedinhersadaloofnesssimplyathingtobeshelteredandshieldedsomehowinherdifficultlifejourney。Ivoryoftenthoughthowsorelysheneededadaughterinheraffliction。Ifthebabysisterhadonlylived，thehomemighthavebeendifferent；butalas！therewasonlyason，——asonwhotriedtobetenderandsympathetic，butafterallwasnothingbutabig，clumsy，uncomprehendingman—creature，whooughttobefellingtrees，ploughing，sowing，reaping，oratleaststudyinglaw，makinghisownfortuneandthatofsomefuturewife。OldMrs。Mason，agarrulous，good—heartedgrandame，wastheironlynearneighbor，andhervisitsalwayslefthismotherworseratherthanbetter。HowsuchagirlasWaitstillwouldpourcomfortandbeautyandjoyintoalonelyhouselikehis，ifonlyhewereweakenoughtocalluponherstrengthandputittosocruelatest。Godhelphim，hewouldneverdothat，especiallyashecouldnotearnenoughtokeepalargerfamily，bounddownashewasbyinexorableresponsibilities。Waitstill，thusfarinlife，hadsufferedmanysorrowsandenjoyedfewpleasures；marriageoughttobringherfreedomandplenty，notcarkingcareandpoverty。Hestolelonglooksatthegirlacrosstheseparatingspacethatwassohelplesstoseparate，——feedinghisstarvedheartuponherwomanlygraces。Herquick，springingstepwasinharmonywiththefireandcourageofhermien。Therewasalineortwoinherface，——smallwonder；butan\"unconquerablesoul\"shoneinhereyes；shone，too，innouncertainway，butbrightlyandsteadily，expressinganunshakenjoyinliving。Valiant，splendid，indomitableWaitstill！Hecouldnevertellher，alas！buthowhegloriedinher！
ItisneedlesstosaythatnowomancouldbethepossessorofsuchaloveasIvoryBoynton’sandnotknowofitsexistence。
WaitstillneverheardabreathofitfromIvory’slips；evenhiseyeswereundercontrolandconfessednothing；nordidhishandeverclasphers，toshowbyatell—taletouchthetruthhedarednotutter；neverthelessshefeltthatshewasbeloved。Shehidtheknowledgedeepinherheartandcovereditsoftlyfromeveryeyebutherown；takingitoutinthesafedarknesssometimestowonderoverandadoreinsecret。DidherloveforIvoryrestpartlyonasenseofvocation？——aprofound，inarticulatediviningofhisvastneedofher？Hewassostrong，yetsoweakbecauseoftheyokehebore，sobitterlyaloneinhisdesperatestrugglewithlife，thatherheartmeltedlikewaxwhenevershethoughtofhim。Whenshecontemplatedthehiddenmutinyinherownheart，shewasawestrucksometimesatthealmostdivinepatienceofIvory’sconductasason。
\"Howisyourmotherthissummer，Ivory？\"sheaskedastheysatdownonthemeeting—housestepswaitingforJedMorrilltoopenthedoor。
\"Thereislittlechangeinherfromyeartoyear，Waitstill。——Bytheway，whydon’twegetoutofthisafternoonsunandsitintheoldgraveyardunderthetrees？Weareearlyandthechoirwon’tgethereforhalfanhour。——Dr。Perrysaysthathedoesnotunderstandmother’scaseintheleast，andthatnoonebutsomegreatBostonphysiciancouldgiveaproperopiniononit；ofcourse，thatisimpossibleatpresent。\"
TheysatdownonthegrassunderneathoneoftheelmsandWaitstilltookoffherhatandleanedbackagainstthetree—trunk。
\"Tellmemore，\"shesaid；\"itissolongsincewetalkedtogetherquietlyandwehaveneverreallyspokenofyourmother。\"
\"Ofcourse，\"Ivorycontinued，\"thepeopleofthevillageallthinkandspeakofmother’sillnessasreligiousinsanity，buttomeitseemsnothingofthesort。IwasonlyachildwhenfatherfirstfellillwithJacobCochrane，butIwastwelvewhenfatherwentawayfromhomeonhis’mission，’andiftherewasanyonesufferingfromdelusionsinourfamilyitwashe，notmother。ShehadaltogethergivenupgoingtotheCochranemeetings，andI
wellrememberthescenewhenmyfathertoldheroftherevelationhehadreceivedaboutgoingthroughthestateandintoNewHampshireinordertoconvertothersandextendthemovement。Shehadnosympathywithhisself—imposedmission，youmaybesure，thoughnowshegoesbackinhermemorytotheearlierdaysofhermarriedlife，whenshetriedhard，poorsoul，totreadthesamepaththatfatherwastreading，soastobebyhissideateveryturnoftheroad。
\"Iamsure\"（hereIvory’stonewassomewhatdryandsatirical）
\"thatfather’sroadhadmanyturns，Waitstill！HewasaschoolmasterinSaco，youknow，whenIwasbornbuthesoonturnedfromteachingtopreaching，andheremymotherfollowedwithentiresympathy，forshewasintensely，devoutlyreligious。
Isaidtherewaslittlechangeinher，butthereisonenewsymptom。ShehasceasedtorefertoherconversiontoCochranismasablessedexperience。Hermemoryofthosefirstdaysseemstohavefaded，Astohersister’sdeathandallthecircumstancesofherbringingRodmanhome，hermindisablank。Herexpectationoffather’sreturn，ontheotherhand，ismuchmoreintensethanever。\"
\"Shemusthavelovedyourfatherdearly，Ivory，andtolosehiminthisterriblewayismuchworsethandeath。UncleBartsayshehadagreatgiftoflanguage！\"
\"Yes，anditwasthat，inmymind，thatledhimastray。IfearthattheSpiritofGodwasneversostronginfatherasthedesiretoinfluencepeoplebyhisoratory。Thatwaswhatdrewhimtopreachinginthefirstplace，andwhenhefoundin，JacobCochraneamanwhocouldmoveanaudiencetofrenzy，liftthemoutofthebody，anddowiththeirspiritsashewilled，heacknowledgedhimasmaster。WhetherhisgospelwasapureandundefiledreligionIdoubt，buthecertainlywasamasterofmesmericcontrol。Mymotherwasbeguiled，entranced，evenbewitchedatfirst，Idoubtnot，forshetranslatedallthatCochranesaidintoherownspeech，andregardedhimastheprophetofanewera。ButCochrane’slast’revelations’differedfromthefirst，andwereoftheearth，earthy。Mymother’spuresoulmusthaverevolted，butshewasnotstrongenoughtodragfatherfromhisallegiance。Motherwasofbetterfamilythanfather，buttheywerebothwelleducatedandhadthebestschoolingtobehadintheirday。SofarasIcanjudge，motheralwayshadmore’balance’thanfather，andmuchbetterjudgment，——yetlookathernow！\"
\"Thenyouthinkitwasyourfather’sdisappearancethatreallycausedhermindtowaver？\"askedWaitstill。
\"Ido，indeed。Idon’tknowwhathappenedbetweentheminthewayofreligiousdifferences，norhowmuchunhappinessthesemayhavecaused。IremembershehadanillnesswhenwefirstcameheretoliveandIwasalittlechapofthreeorfour，butthatwascausedbythelossofachild，agirl，wholivedonlyafewweeks。Sherecoveredperfectly，andherheadwasasclearasmineforayearortwoafterfatherwentaway。Ashislettersgrewlessfrequent，asnewsofhimgraduallyceasedtocome，shebecamemoreandmoresilent，andretiredmorecompletelyintoherself。Sheneverwentanywhere，norentertainedvisitors，becauseshedidnotwishtohearthegossipandspeculationthatweregoingoninthevillage。Someofitwasveryhardforawifetobear，andsheresenteditindignantly；yetneverreceivedawordfromfatherwithwhichtorefuteit。Atthistime，asnearlyasIcanjudge，shewasarecluse，andsubjecttoperiodsofprofoundmelancholy，butnothingworse。Thenshetookthatwinterjourneytohersister’sdeathbed，broughthometheboy，and，hastenedbyexposureandchillandgrief，Isuppose，hermindgaveway，——that’sall！\"AndIvorysigheddrearilyashestretchedhimselfonthegreensward，andlookedofftowardsthesnow—cladNewHampshirehills。\"I’vemeanttowritethestoryofthe’Cochranecraze’sometime，orsuchpartofitashastodowithmyfamilyhistory，andyoushallreaditifyoulike。Ishouldsetdownmychild—hoodandmyboyhoodmemories，togetherwithsuchscrapsofvillagehearsayasseemreliable。YouwerenotsomuchyoungerthanI，butIwasinthethickoftheexcitement，andnaturallyIheardmorethanyou，havingsobitterareasonforbeinginterested。JacobCochranehasaltogetherdisappearedfrompublicview，butthere’smanyafamilyinMaineandNewHampshire，yes，andinthefarWest，thatwillfeelhisinfluenceforyearstocome。\"
\"Ishouldlikeverymuchtoreadyouraccount。AuntAbby’sversion，forinstance，issodifferentfromUncleBart’sthatonecanscarcelyfindthetruthbetweenthetwo；andfather’sbearsnorelationtothatofanyoftheothers。\"
\"Someofusseefactsandothersseevisions，repliedIvory，\"andthesedifferencesofopinioncropupinthevillageeverydaywhenanythingnoteworthyisdiscussed。Icameuponaquotationinmyreadinglasteveningthatdescribedit：
’Onesaiditthundered……anotherthatanangelspake’\"
\"Doyoufeelasifyourfatherwasdead，Ivory？\"
\"Icanonlyhopeso！Thatthoughtbringssadnesswithit，asoneremembershisdisappointmentandfailure，butifheisaliveheisatraitor。\"
TherewasalongpauseandtheycouldseeinthedistanceHumphreyBarkerwithhisclarionetandPlinyWaterhousewithhisbassvioldrivinguptothechurchyardfencetohitchtheirhorses。ThesunwasdippinglowandredbehindtheTown—HouseHillontheothersideoftheriver。
\"Whatmakesmyfatherdisliketheverymentionofyours？\"askedWaitstill。\"Iknowwhattheysay：thatitisbecausethetwomenhadhighwordsonceinaCochranemeeting，whenfathertriedtointerferewithsomeoftheexercisesandwasputoutofdoors。Itdoesn’tseemasifthatgrievance，seventeenoreighteenyearsago，wouldinfluencehisopinionofyourmother，orofyou。\"
\"Itisn’tlikelythatamanofyourfather’ssortwouldforgetorforgivewhatheconsideredaninjury；andinrefusingtohaveanythingtodowiththesonofadisgracedmanandaderangedwoman，heiswellwithinhisrights。\"
Ivory’scheeksburnedredunderthetan，andhishandtrembledalittleashepluckedbitsofcloverfromthegrassandpulledthemtopiecesabsent—mindedly。\"Howareyougettingonathomethesedays，Waitstill？\"heasked，asiftoturnhisownmindandhersfromatoopainfulsubject。
\"Youhavetroublesenoughofyourownwithouthearingmine，Ivory，andanywaytheyarenotbigafflictions，heavysorrows，likethoseyouhavetobear。Minearejustpetty，nagging，sordid，cheaplittlemiseries，likegnat—bites；——sopettyandsosordidthatIcanhardlytalktoGodaboutthem，muchlesstoahumanfriend。PattyismyonlyoutletandIneedothers，yetI
finditalmostimpossibletoescapefromthenarrownessofmylifeandbeofusetoanyoneelse。\"Thegirl’svoicequiveredandasingletear—droponhercheekshowedthatshewasspeakingfromafullheart。\"Thisafternoon’stalkhasdeterminedmeinonething，\"shewenton。\"Iamgoingtoseeyourmothernowandthen。Ishallhavetodoitsecretly，foryoursake，forhers，andformyown，butifIamfoundout，thenIwillgoopenly。
Theremustbetimeswhenonecanbreakthelowerlaw，andyetkeepthehigher。Father’slaw，inthiscase，isthelower，andI
proposetobreakit。\"
\"Ican’thaveyougettingintotrouble，Waitstill，\"Ivoryobjected。\"You’retheonewomanIcanthinkofwhomighthelpmymother；allthesame，Iwouldnotmakeyourlifeharder；notforworlds！\"
\"Itwillnotbeharder，andevenifitwasIshould’countitalljoy’tohelpawomanbearsuchsorrowasyourmotherendurespatientlydayafterday\"；andWaitstillrosetoherfeetandtiedonherhatasonewhohadmadeuphermind。
ItwasalmostimpossibleforIvorytoholdhispeacethen，sofullofgratitudewashissoulandsogreathislongingtopouroutthefeelingthatfloodedit。Hepulledhimselftogetherandledthewayoutofthechurchyard。TolookatWaitstillagainwouldbetolosehishead，buttohistroubledhearttherecameafloodoflight，agloryfromthatlampthatawomanmayholdupforaman；aglorythatnonecantakefromhim，andnonecandarken；alightbywhichhemaywalkandliveanddie。
XI
AJUNESUNDAY
ITwasaSundayinJune，andalmostthewholepopulationofRiverboroandEdgewoodwaswalkingordrivinginthedirectionofthemeeting—houseonToryHill。
Churchtoilettes，youmaywellbelieve，weredifficultofattainmentbyDeaconBaxter’sdaughters，astheyhadbeenbyhisrespectivehelpmatesinyearsgoneby。WhenWaitstill’smotherfirstaskedherhusbandtobuyheranewdress，andthatwastwoyearsaftermarriage，hesimplysaid：\"Youlookwellenough；whatdoyouwanttowastemoneyonfineryfor，thesehardtimes？Ifotherfolksareextravagant，thatain’tanyreasonyoushouldbe。
Youain’tobligedtotakeyourneighborsforanexample：——take’emforawarnin’！\"
\"But，Foxwell，mySundaydressisworncompletelytothreads，\"
urgedthesecondMrs。Baxter。
\"That’swhatwomenalwayssay；they’reallalike；nomoreideao’
savin’anythingthanaskunk—blackbird！Ican’tspareanymoneyforgew—gaws，andyoumightaswellunderstanditfirstaslast。Goupatticandopenthehairtrunkbythewinder；you’llfindplentytheretolastyouforyearstocome。\"
ThesecondMrs。Baxtervisitedtheatticascommanded，andinturningovertheclothesintheoldtrunk，knewbyinstinctthattheyhadbelongedtoherpredecessorinoffice。Someofthedresseswereneat，thoughterriblywornandfaded，butallwerefortunatelyfartooshortandsmallforapersonofherfineproportions。Besides，herverysoulshrankfromwearingthem，andherspiritrevoltedbothfromtheinsulttoherselfandtothepoordeadwomanshehadsucceeded，soshecamedownstairstodarnandmendandpatchagainhershabbywardrobe。
Waitstillhadgonethroughthesameashermotherbeforeher，butindespair，whenshewasseventeen，shebegantocutovertheoldgarmentsforherselfandPatty。Mercifullytherewereveryfewofthem，andtheyhadlongsincebeendiscarded。Ateighteenshehadlearnedtodyeyarnswithyellowoakormaplebarkandtomakepurplesfromelderandsumacberries；shecouldspinandknitaswellasanyold\"Aunt\"ofthevillage，andcutandshapeagarmentasdeftlyastheEdgewoodtailoress，butthetaskofmakingbrickswithoutstrawwasahardone，indeed。
SheworeawhitecottonfrockonthisparticularSunday。Itwasstarchedandironedwithabeautifulgloss，whileatouchofdistinctionwasgiventohercostumebyalittleblacksleeveless\"roundabout\"madeoutofthecoveringofanoldsilkumbrella。
Herflathathadasinglewreathofcoarsedaisiesaroundthecrown，andhermittsweredarnedinmanyplaces，neverthelessyoucouldnotentirelyspoilher；Godhadusedaliberalhandinmakingher，andherfather’sparsimonywasasortofboomerangthatflewbackchieflyuponhimself。
AsforPatty，herstyleofbeauty，likeCephasCole’sellhadtobetoneddownratherthanup，tobeeffective，butcircumstanceshadbeencruellyunrelentinginthisprocessoflate。DeaconBaxterhadgiventhegirlsthreeorfourshopwornpiecesoffadedyellowcalicothathadbeenrepudiatedbythevillagehousewivesasnot\"fast\"enoughincolortobearthetestofproperwashing。
Thishadmadefrocks，aprons，petticoats，andevenunderclothes，fortwofullyears，andPatty’sweeklyobjurgationswhensheremovedhereverlastingyellowdressfromthenailwhereithungwerenotsuchasshouldhavefallenfromthelipsofadeacon’sdaughter。Waitstillhadtakenapieceofthesameyellowmaterial，starchedandironedit，cutacurving，circularbrimfromit，sewedinapleatedcrown，andlo！ahatforPatty！WhatinspiredPattytoputonawaistribbonofdeepestwinecolor，withalittlebandofthesameonthepaleyellowhat，noonecouldsay。
\"Doyouthinkyoushalllikethatdullredrightclosetotheyellow，Patty？\"Waitstillaskedanxiously。