IvoryhaddrawnitupatMr。Wilson’srequest，merelytoshowhowfarheunderstoodthebooksandcaseshewasstudying，andhehadnoideathatitdifferedinanywayfromtheworkofanyotherstudent；allthesame，Mark’sowneffortsinalikedirectionhadneverreceivedanyspecialmention。Whenhewasinthehay—fieldhealsokeptasfaraspossiblefromIvory，becausethere，too，hefeltasuperioritythatmadehim，forthemoment，atriflediscontented。ItwasnoparticularpleasureforhimtoseeIvoryplungehisforkdeepintotheheartofahay—cock，takeafirmgraspofthehandle，thrustforwardhisfoottosteadyhimself，andthenraisethegreatfragrantheapslowly，andswingituptothewaitinghaycartamidtheapplauseofthecrowd。Rodmanwouldbethere，too，helpingthemanontopoftheloadandgettingnearlyburiedeachtime，asthemassdescendeduponhim，butdoinghisslenderbesttodistributeandtreaditdownproperly，whilehisyoungheartglowedwithprideatCousinIvory’sprowess。
IndependenceDayhadpassed，withitsusualgayetiesfortheyoungpeople，innoneofwhichtheBaxterfamilyhadjoined，andnow，ateleveno’clockonthisburningJulymorning，WaitstillwasdrivingtheoldmarepasttheWilsonfarmonherwaytotheriverfield。Herfatherwasworkingthere，togetherwiththetwohiredmenwhomhetookonforafortnightduringtheheightoftheseason。Ifmowing，raking，pitching，andcartingofthepreciouscropcouldonlyhavebeendoneatoddtimesduringtheyear，oratnight，hewouldnothaveembitteredthemonthofJulybypayingoutmoneyforlabor：butNaturewasinexorableintheripeningofhayandOldFoxywasobligedtosuccumbtotheinevitable。Waitstillhadabasketpackedwithluncheonforthreeandagreatdemijohnofcoolgingerteaunderthewagonseat。
Otherfarmerssometimesservedhardcider，orrum，butherfather’sprinciplesweredeadagainstthisriotousextravagance。
Temperance，inanyandalldirections，wascheap，andtheDeaconwasaverytemperateman，saveinlanguage。
Thefieldsonbothsidesoftheroadwerefullofhaymakersandeverywheretherewasbustleandstir。Therewouldbethreeorfourmen，oneleading，theothersfollowing，slowlyswingingtheirwaythroughanoblepieceofgrass，andthesmellofthemownfieldsinthesunshinewassweeterthanhoneyinthecomb。
Therewerepatchesofblack—eyedSusansinthemeadowshereandthere，whilepinkandwhitehardhackgrewbytheroad，withdayliliesandblossomingmilkweed。Thebobolinkswereflutingfromeverytree；therewerethrushesinthealderbushesandoriolesinthetopsoftheelms，andWaitstill’sheartoverflowedwithjoyatbeinginsuchaworldofmidsummerbeauty，thoughlife，duringthegreatheatandincessantworkofhaying—time，wasalittlemorerigorousthanusual。Theextrafoodneededforthehiredmenalwayskeptherfatherinastateofmindcloselyresemblinginsanity。Comingdownstairstocookbreakfastshewouldfindthecoffeeorteameasuredoutforthepot。Theincreasedconsumptionofmilkangeredhimbeyondwords，becauseitlessenedthesupplyofbutterforsale。Everythingthatcouldbemadewithbuttermilkwasorderedsotobedone，andnothingbutwatercouldbeusedinmixingtheraisedbread。Thecorncakemustneverhaveanegg；thepiecrustmustbeshortenedonlywithlard，orwithamixtureofbeef—fatanddripping；andsoon，andsoon，eternally。
Whenthegirlswererespectivelyseventeenandthirteen，Waitstillhadbeggedasmallplotofgroundforthemtouseastheyliked，andbeginningatthattimetheyhadgraduallymadealittlegarden，withacoupleoffruittreesandathicketofred，white，andblackcurrantsraspberryandblackberrybushes。Forseveralsummersnowtheyhadsoldenoughoftheirownfruittobuyapairofshoesorgloves，ascarforahat，buteventhistinyincomewasbeginningtobemenaced。TheDeaconpositivelysufferedashelookedatthatoddcornerofearth，notanybiggerthanhisbarnfloor，andsawwhathisgirlshaddonewithnotoolsbutaspadeandahoeandnohelpbuttheirownhands。Hehadnoleisure（sohegrowled）tocultivateandfertilizegroundforsmallfruits，andnomoneytopayamantodoit，yetherewasfoodgrownunderhisveryeye，anditdidnotbelongtohim！
Thegirlsworkedintheirgardenchieflyatsunriseinspringandearlysummer，oraftersupperintheevening；allthesameWaitstillhadbeentoldbyherfatherthedaybeforethatshewasnotonlyusingground，buttime，thatbelongedtohim，andthatheshouldexpecthertoprovide\"pie—filling\"outofhergardenpatchduringhaying，tohelpsatisfytheravenousappetitesofthatcoupleof\"great，gorming，greedylubbers\"thathewashiringthisyear。Hehadstoppedthepeelingofpotatoesbeforeboilingbecausehedisapprovedofthethicknessoftheparingshefoundinthepig’spail，andhestoodoverPattyatherworkinthekitchenuntilWaitstillwasindailyfearofatempestofsomesort。
CominginfromtheshedonemorningshemetherfatherjustissuingfromthekitchenwherePattywasstandinglikeayoungFuryinfrontofthesink。\"Father’sbeenspyingattheeggshellsIsettledthecoffeewith，andsaidI’dnobusinesstoleavesomuchgoodintheshellwhenIbrokeanegg。Iwillnotbearit；
hemakesmefeelfairlymurderous！You’dbetternotleavemealonewithhimwhenI’mlikethis。Oh！IknowthatI’mwicked，butisn’thewickedtoo，andwhowaswickedfirst？\"
Patty’shearthadbeensetonearningandsavingenoughpenniesforawhitemuslindressandeverydayrenderedtheprospectmoreuncertain；thiswasasufficientgrievanceinitselftokeephertemperattheboilingpointhadtherenotbeenvariousothercontributorycauses。Waitstill’spatiencewasflaggingatrifle，too，underthestressofthehotdaysandthestillhotter，breathlessnights。Thesuspicioncrossedhermindnowandthenthatherfather’smiserlinessandfitsoftempermightbecausedbyamentalmaladyoverwhichhenowhadlittleornocontrol，havingnevermasteredhimselfinallhislife。Herpowerofendurancewouldbegreater，shethought，ifonlyshecouldbecertainthatthistheorywastrue，thoughherslaverywouldbejustasgalling。
Itwouldbesoeasyforhertogoawayandearnaliving；shewhohadneverhadadayofillnessinherlife；shewhocouldsew，knit，spin，weave，andcook。ShecouldmakeenoughmoneyinBiddefordorPortsmouthtosupportherself，andPatty，too，untiltheproperworkwasfoundforboth。Buttherewouldbeatrulyterribleconflictofwills，andsuchfiercearraignmentofherunfilialconduct，suchbitterandcausticargumentfromherfather，suchdisapprovalfromtheparsonandtheneighbors，thatherverysoulshrankfromtheprospect。Ifshecouldgoalone，andhavenoresponsibilityoverPatty’sfuture，thatwouldbealittlemorepossible，butshemustthinkwiselyfortwo。
AndhowcouldsheleaveIvorywhentheremightperhapscomeacrisisinhislifewhereshecouldbeusefultohim？HowcouldshecutherselfofffromthoseSundaysinthechoir，thosedearfugitiveglimpsesofhimintheroadoratprayer—meeting？Theywereonlysipsofhappiness，whereherthirstyheartyearnedforlong，deepdraughts，buttheywereimmeasurablybetterthannothing。Freedomfromherfather’sheavyyoke，freedomtowork，andread，andsing，andstudy，andgrow，——oh！howshelongedforthis，butatwhatacostwouldshegainitifshehadtoharbortheguiltyconscienceofanundutifulandrebelliousdaughter，andatthesametimecutherselfofffromthesightoftheonebeingshelovedbestinalltheworld。
ShefeltdrawntowardsIvory’smotherto—day。ThreeweekshadpassedsincehertalkwithIvoryinthechurchyard，buttherehadbeennopossibilityofanhour’sescapefromhome。Shewasatlibertythisafternoon——relativelyatliberty；foralthoughherwork，asusual，waslaidoutforher，itcouldbemadeupsomehoworotherbeforenightfall。ShecoulddriveovertotheBoynton’splace，hitchherhorseinthewoodsnearthehouse，makehervisit，yetbeinplentyoftimetogouptotheriverfieldandbringherfatherhometosupper。PattywasoveratMrs。AbelDay’s，learninganewcrochetstitchandhelpinghertostartalog—cabinquilt。IvoryandRodman，shenew，werebothawayintheWilsonhay—field；notimewouldeverbemorefavorable；soinsteadofdrivingupTown—HouseHillwhenshereturnedtothevillageshekeptonoverthebridge。
XIV
UNCLEBARTDISCOURSES
UNCLEBARTandCephasweretakingtheirnooninghourundertheNodheadappletreeasWaitstillpassedthejoiner’sshopandwentoverthebridge。
\"UncleBartmightsomehowguesswhereIamgoing，\"shethought，\"butevenifhedidhewouldnevertellanyone。\"
\"Where’sWaitstillboundthisafternoon，Iwonder？\"drawledCephas，risingtohisfeetandlookingafterthedepartingteam。
\"Thatremindsme，I’dbetterrunuptoBaxter’sandseeifany—thing’swantedbeforeIopenthestore。\"
\"Ifitmakesanydif’rence，\"saidhisfatherdryly，ashefilledhispipe，\"Patty’sovertoMis’Day’sspendin’theafternoon。
Don’ts’poseyouwanttocallonthepig，doyou？He’stheonlyonetohome。\"
Cephasmadenoremark，butgavehistrousersahitch，pickedupachip，openedhisjack—knife，andsittingdownonthegreenswardbeganidlywhittlingthebitofwoodintoshape。
\"Ikindo’wishyou’dletmemakethenewelltwo—story，father；
’twouldn’tbemuchwork，takeitinslacktimeafterhayin’。\"
\"Lando’Liberty！Whatdoyouwanttodothatfor，Cephas？You’boutpesteredthelifeouto’megittin’metobuildtheellinthefirstplace，whenwedidn’tneeditnomore’natoaddoesapocketbook。Thennothin’woulddobutyoumustpaintit，thoughI
shan’tbeabletohavethemainhousepaintedforanotheryear，sotheoldwinean’thenewbottlesidebysidelooksliketheOldDriver，an’makesusalaughin’—stocktothevillage；——andnowyouwanttochangethethingintoatwo—story！Neverheerdsuchacrazyideeinmylife。\"
\"Iwanttosettledown，\"insistedCephasdoggedly。
\"Well，settle；I’mwillin’！Itoldyouthat，aforeyoupaintedtheell。Ain’ttworooms，fourteenbyfourteen，enoughforyoutosettledownin？Iftheyain’t，Iguessyourmother’dgiveyouoneo’thechambersinthemainpart。\"
\"ShewouldifImarriedPhoebeDay，butIdon’twanttomarryPhoebe，\"arguedCephas。\"Andmother’sgoneandmadeasummerkitchenforherselfoutintheell，a’ready。Ibetyershe’llnevermoveoutifIshouldwanttomoveinona’sudden。\"
\"Itoldyouyouwastakin’thatriskwhenyoucutadoorthroughfromthemainpart，\"saidhisfathergenially。\"Ifyouhadn’tdonethat，yourmotherwould’a’hadtogoneroundoutsidetogitint’theellandmebbeshe’d’a’stayedtohomewhenitstormed，anyhow。Nowyourwife’11havehertroopin’inan’out，inan’
out，thewhole’durin’time。\"
\"Ionlycutthedoorthroughtopleaseso’tshe’dfavormygittin’married，butIguess’twon’tdonogood。Yousee，father，whatIwasthinkin’ofis，agirlwouldmebbejumpatatwo—story，four—roomedellwhenshewouldn’tlookatasmallerplace。\"
\"Pendsuponwhetherthegirl’sthejumpin’kindornot！Hadn’tyoubettergiteverythingfixedupwiththeoneyou’vepickedout，aforeyoutakeyourgoodsavin’sandgotobuildin’abiggerplaceforher？\"
\"I’veaskedheroncea’ready，\"Cephasallowed，withaburningface。\"Idon’ts’poseyouknowtheoneImean？\"
\"Nokindofanidee，\"respondedhisfather，withaquizzicalwinkthatwaslostontheyoungman，ashiseyeswerefixeduponhiswhittling。\"Doesshebelongtothevillage？\"
\"Iain’tgoin’toletfolksknowwhoI’vepickedouttillIgitalittlemiteforrarder，\"respondedCephascraftily。\"Say，father，it’sallrighttoaskagirltwice，ain’tit？
\"Certainitis，myson。Ineverheerdtherewasanyspeciallimittothenumbero’timesyoucouldask’em，andtheirpowero’
sayin’’No’islikethemercyoftheLord；itendurethforever。
——Youwouldn’tconsiderawidder，Cephas？Awidder’dbeagoodcomp’ny—keeperforyourmother。\"
\"Ihain’tputmygoodsavin’sintoanelljesttomarryacomp’ny—keeperformother，\"respondedCephashuffily。\"Iwanttobenumberonewithmygirlandstartrightinontrainin’heruptosuitme。\"
\"Well，iftrainin’’syourobjectyou’dbettertakemyadvicean’
keepitdarkbeforemarriage，Cephas。It’sastonishin’howthefemalesectdespisesbein’trained；itdon’thardlyseemtobeintheirnaturetomakeanychangesin’emselvesaftertheyoncegitsstarted。\"
\"Howareyougoin’tolivewith’em，then？\"Cephasinquired，lookingupwithinterestcoupledwithsomeincredulity。
\"Letthemdothetrainingrespondedhisfather，peacefullypuffingoutthewordswithhispipebetweenhislips。\"Someof’em’smildandgentleindiscipline，likeParsonBoone’swifeorMis’TimothyGrant，andothersisstrictandfirmlikeyourmotherandMis’AbelDay。Ifyouhappentogitthefirstkind，why，doastheytellyou，andthanktheLord’tain’tanyworse。
Ifyougitthesecondkind，jestlet’emputtheblindersonyouandtrotasstraightasyouknowhow，withoutshyingnorkickin’
overthetraces，norbolting’causethey’vegotcontrolo’thebitand’tain’tnousefightin’ag’in’theirsuperiorstrength。——Sofurasyoucanjudge，intheearlystageso’thegame，myson，——whichain’tveryfur，——whichkindhaveyoupickedout？\"
Cephaswhittledonforsomemomentswithoutaword，butfinally，withasighdrawnfromtheverytoesofhisboots，herespondedgloomily，——
\"She’sawfulspunky，thegirlis，anybodycanseethat；butshe’sayoungthing，andIthoughtbein’marriedwouldkindo’tameherdown！\"
\"Youcanseehowmuchmarriagehastamedyourmotherdown，\"
observedUncleBartdispassionately；\"howsomever，thoughyourmothercan’tbecalledtame，she’sgothergoodp’ints，forshe’salwaystobecountedon。Thegreatthinginlife，asItakeit，Cephas，istoknowexactlywhattoexpect。Yourmother’sgen’allycreditedwithanonsartintemper，butfolksdoeshergreatinjusticeinsothinkingforinalongexperienceI’veseldomcomeacrossatemperlessonsartinthanyourmother’s。Youknowexactlywheretofindhereverymornin’atsun—upandeverynightatsundown。Thereain’tnothin’youcandotoputherouto’
temper，causeshe’salloutaforehand。Youcanjestgoaboutyourreg’larbusiness’thoutanyfearofdisturbin’heranyfurtherthanshe’sdisturbeda’ready，whichisconsid’rable。Idon’tminditamitenowadays，though，afterfortyyearsofit。Itwouldkindo’gallmetokeepastiddywatchofafemale’sdispositiondaybyday，wonderin’whenshewasgoin’tohaveatantrum。A
tantrumonceayear’sanawfulupsettin’kindofathinginafamily，myson，butatantrumeverytwenty—fourhoursisjestparto’theday’swork。\"Therewasamoment’ssilenceduringwhichUncleBartpuffedhispipeandCephaswhittled，afterwhichtheoldmancontinued：\"Then，ifyouhappentomarryatemperlikeyourmother’s，Cephas，lookwhatapow’fulworkeryougen’allyget！Lookatthewaytheysweepan’dustan’scruban’
clean！Watch’emwhentheygoatthedish—washin’，an’howtheywhacktherollin’—pin，an’maultheeggs，an’heavethewoodint’
thestove，an’slatthefliesouto’thehouse！Themildandgentleonesenough，willbesettin’inthekitchenrockerread—in’thealmanacwhenthereain’tnowoodinthekitchenbox，nodoughnutsinthecrock，nopiesontheswingshelfinthecellar，an’theyoungonesgoin’roundwithoutasecondshifttotheirbacks！\"
Cephas’smindwasfarawayduringthisphilosophicaldissertationonthewaysofwomen。Hecouldseeonlyasunnyheadfairlyriotingwithcurls；apairofeyesthatheldhislikemagnets，althoughtheynevergavehimaglanceoflove；asmilethatlightedtheworldfarbetterthanthesun；adimpleintowhichhisheartfellheadlongwheneverhelookedatit！
\"You’reright，father；’tain’tnousekickin’ag’in’em，\"hesaidasherosetohisfeetpreparatorytoopeningtheBaxterstore。
\"WhenIsaidthat’bouttrainin’upagirltosuitme，Ikindo’
forgottheoneI’vepickedout。I’mconsiderin’several，buttheoneIfavormost—well，Ibelieveshe’dfireupatthefirstsighto’trainingandthat’sthegospeltruth。\"
\"Considerin’several，beyou，Cephas？\"laughedUncleBart。\"Well，allIhopeis，thattheoneyoufavormost——thegirlyou’veaskedoncea’ready——isconsiderin’you！\"
Cephaswenttothepump，andwettingalargehandkerchiefputitinthecrownofhisstrawhatandsaunteredoutintotheburningheatoftheopenroadbetweenhisfather’sshopandDeaconBaxter’sstore。
\"Ishan’taskherthenexttimetillthishotspell’sover，\"hethought，\"andIwon’tdoitinthatdodgastedoldstoreag’in，neither；Iain’tsotongue—tiedoutdoorsan’Ikindo’thinkI’dbemoreinthesperitofitaftersundown，somenightaftersupper！\"
XV
IVORY’SMOTHER
WAITSTILLfoundacoolandshadyplaceinwhichtohitchtheoldmare，looseninghercheck—reinandputtingasprigofalderinherheadstalltoassistherinbrushingofftheflies。
OnecouldreachtheBoyntonhouseonlybygoingupalonggrass—grownlanethatledfromthehigh—road。Itwasalonelyplace，andAaronBoyntonhadboughtitwhenhemovedfromSaco，simplybecausehesecureditataremarkablebargain，theownerhavinglosthiswifeandgonetoliveinMassachusetts。Ivorywouldhavesolditlongagohadcircumstancesbeendifferent，foritwasattoogreatadistancefromtheschoolhouseandfromLawyerWilson’sofficetobeatallconvenient，buthedreadedtoremovehismotherfromtheenvironmenttowhichshewasaccustomed，anddoubtedverymuchwhethershewouldbeabletocareforahousetowhichshehadnotbeenwontedbeforehermindbecameaffected。Hereinthissafe，secludedcorner，amidfamiliarandthoroughlyknownconditions，shemovedplacidlyaboutherdailytasks，performingthemwiththesamecareandprecisionthatshehadusedfromthebeginningofhermarriedlife。AlltheheavyworkwasdoneforherbyIvoryandRodman；
theboyinparticularbeingthefleetest—footed，themostwilling，andtheneatestofhelpers；washingdishes，sweepinganddusting，layingthetable，asdeftlyandquietlyasagirl。Mrs。
Boyntonmadeherownsimpledressesofgraycalicoinsummer，ordarklinsey—woolseyinwinterbythesamepatternthatshehadusedwhenshefirstcametoEdgewood：infacttherewerepositivelynoexternalchangesanywheretobeseen，tragicandterribleashadbeenthosethathadwroughthavocinhermind。
Waitstill’sheartbeatfasterasshenearedtheBoyntonhouse。
ShehadneversomuchasseenIvory’smotherforyears。Howwouldshebemet？Whowouldbegintheconversation，andwhatdirectionwouldittake？WhatifMrs。Boyntonshouldrefusetotalktoheratall？Shewalkedslowlyalongthelaneuntilshesawaslender，gray—cladfigurestoopingoveraflower—bedinfrontofthecottage。Thewomanraisedherheadwithafawn—likegesturethathadsomethinginitoftimidityratherthanfear，pickedsomeloosebitsofgreenfromtheground，and，quietlyturningherbackupontheoncomingstranger，disappearedthroughtheopenfrontdoor。
Therecouldbenoretreatonherownpartnow，thoughtWaitstill。
ShewishedforamomentthatshehadmadethisfirstvisitunderIvory’sprotection，butherideahadbeentogainMrs。Boynton’sconfidenceandhaveaquietfriendlytalk，suchaoneaswouldbeimpossibleinthepresenceofathirdperson。Approachingthesteps，shecalledthroughthedoorwayinherclearvoice：\"Ivoryaskedmetocomeandseeyouoneday，Mrs。Boynton。IamWaitstillBaxter，thelittlegirlonTownHouseHillthatyouusedtoknow。\"
Mrs。Boyntoncamefromaninnerroomandstoodonthethreshold。
Thename\"Waitstill\"hadalwayshadacharmforherears，fromthetimeshefirstheardityearsago，untilitfellfromIvory’slipsthissummer；andagainitcaughtherfancy。
\"’WAITSTILL！\"’sherepeatedsoftly；\"’WAITSTILL！’DoesIvoryknowyou？\"
\"We’veknowneachotherforeversolong；eversincewewenttothebrickschooltogetherwhenweweregirlandboy。AndwhenI
wasachildmystepmotherbroughtmeoverhereonceonanerrandandIvoryshowedmeahumming—bird’snestinthatlilacbushbythedoor。\"
Mrs。Boyntonsmiled\"Comeandlook！\"shewhispered。\"Thereisalwaysahumming—bird’snestinourlilac。Howdidyouremember？\"
ThetwowomenapproachedthebushandMrs。Boyntoncarefullypartedtheleavestoshowthedaintymorselofahomethatchedwithsoftgray—greenandlinedwithdown。\"Thebirdshaveflownnow，\"shesaid。\"Theywerelikelittlejewelswhentheydartedoffinthesunshine。\"
Hervoicewasfaintandsweet，asifitcamefromfaraway，andhereyeslooked，notasiftheywereseeingyou，butseeingsomethingthroughyou。Herpalehairwasturnedbackfromherpalerface，wheretheveinsshowedlikebluerivers，andhersmilewasliketheflittingofamoonbeam。ShewasstandingveryclosetoWaitstill，closerthanshehadbeentoanywomanformanyyears，andshestudiedheralittle，wistfully，yetcourteously，asifherattentionwasattractedbysomethingfreshandwinning。Shelookedatthecolor，ebbingandflowinginthegirl’scheeks；atherbrowsandlashes；atherneck，aswhiteasswan’s—down；andfinallyputoutherhandwithasuddenimpulseandtouchedtheknotofwavybronzehairunderthebrimmedhat。
\"Ihadadaughteronce，\"shesaid。\"Mysecondbabywasagirl，butshelivedonlyafewweeks。Ineedherverymuch，forIamagreatcaretoIvory。Heissonanddaughterboth，nowthatMr。
Boyntonisawayfromhome。——Youdidnotseeanyoneintheroadasyouturnedinfromthebars，Isuppose？\"
\"No，\"answeredWaitstill，surprisedandconfused，\"butIdidn’treallynotice；Iwasthinkingofacoolplaceformyhorsetostand。\"
\"Isitouthereinthesewarmafternoons，\"Mrs。Boyntoncontinued，shadinghereyesandlookingacrossthefields，\"becauseIcanseesofardownthelane。Ihavethesupper—tablesetformyhusbandalready，andthereisasurpriseforhim，asaucerofwildstrawberriesIpickedforhimthismorning。Ifhedoesnotcome，IalwaystakeawaytheplateandcupbeforeIvorygetshere；itseemstomakehimunhappy。\"
\"Hedoesn’tlikeitwhenyouaredisappointed，Isuppose，\"
Waitstillventured。\"Ihavebroughtmyknitting，Mrs。Boynton，sothatIneedn’tkeepyouidleifyouwishtowork。MayIsitdownafewminutes？AndhereisacottagecheeseforIvoryandRodman，andajarofplumsforyou，preservedfrommyowngarden。\"
Mrs。Boynton’seyessearchedthefaceofthisvisitorfromaworldshehadalmostforgottenandfindingnothingbuttendernessthere，saidwithjustatraceofbewilderment：\"Thankyouyes，dositdown；myworkbasketisjustinsidethedoor。Takethatrocking—chair；Idon’thaveanotheroneoutherebecauseIhaveneverbeeninthehabitofseeingvisitors。\"
\"IhopeIamnotintruding，\"stammeredWaitstill，seatingherselfandbeginningherknitting，toseeifitwouldlessenthesenseofstrainbetweenthem。
\"Notatall。Ialwayslovedyoungandbeautifulpeople，andsodidmyhusband。Ifhecomeswhileyouarehere，donotgoaway，butsitwithhimwhileIgethissupper。IfElderCochraneshouldbewithhim，youwouldseetwowonderfulmen。TheywentawaytogethertodosomemissionaryworkinMaineandNewHampshireandperhapstheywillcomebacktogether。Idonotwelcomecallersbecausetheyalwaysasksomanydifficultquestions，butyouaredifferentandhaveaskedmenoneatall。\"
\"Ishouldnotthinkofaskingquestions，Mrs。Boynton。\"
\"NotthatIshouldmindansweringthem，\"continuedIvory’smother，\"exceptthatittiresmyheadverymuchtothink。YoumustnotimagineIamill；itisonlythatIhaveaverybadmemory，andwhenpeopleaskmetoremembersomething，ortogiveananswerquickly，itconfusesmethemore。EvennowIhaveforgottenwhyyoucame，andwhereyoulive；butIhavenotforgottenyourbeautifulname。\"
\"Ivorythoughtyoumightbelonely，andIwantedsomuchtoknowyouthatIcouldnotkeepawayanylonger，forIamlonelyandunhappytoo。Iamalwayswatchingandhopingforwhathasnevercomeyet。Ihavenomother，youhavelostyourdaughter；I
thought——Ithought——perhapswecouldbeacomforttoeachother！\"
AndWaitstillrosefromherchairandputoutherhandtohelpMrs。Boyntondownthesteps，shelookedsofrail，sotransparent，soprematurelyaged。\"Icouldnotcomeveryoften——butifIcouldonlysmoothyourhairsometimeswhenyourheadaches，ordosomecookingforyou，orreadtoyou，oranylittlethinglikethat，asIwouldfermyownmother——ifIcould，Ishouldbesoglad！\"
WaitstillstoodaheadhigherthanIvory’smotherandtheglowinghealthofher，thesteadinessofhervoice，thewarmthofherhand—claspmusthavemadeherseemlikeastrongrefugetothisstorm—tossedderelict。ThedeepfurrowbetweenLoisBoynton’seyesrelaxedatrifle，thebloodinherveinsranalittlemoreswiftlyunderthetouchoftheyounghandthatheldherssoclosely。Suddenlyalightcameintoherfaceandherlipquivered。
\"PerhapsIhavebeenrememberingwrongalltheseyears，\"shesaid。\"Itismygreattrouble，rememberingwrong。PerhapsmybabydidnotdieasIthought；perhapsshelivedandgrewup；perhaps\"
（herpalecheekburnedandhereyesshonelikestars）\"perhapsshehascomeback！\"