\"Notinpublic；sotheymeet’emsideo’theriverorroundthecornerofBart’sshop，oranywheretheycan，whentheDeacon’sback’sturned。IfyoutiedahandkerchiefoverWaitstill’seyesshecouldfindherwayblindfoldtoIvoryBoynton’shouse，butshe’sgoodasgold，Waitstillis；she’llstaywhereherdutycallsher，everytime！Ifanymisfortuneorscandalshouldcomenearthemtwogirls，theDeaconwillhaveno—bodybuthimselftothankforit，that’sonesurething！\"
\"Youngfolkscan’tbeyoungbutonce，\"sighedMrs。Day。\"I
thoughtwehadashandsomeaturn—outattheentertainmentlastevenin’asanyvillageontheSacoRivercould’a’furnished：an’
myPhoebean’yourCephas，ifIdosaysoasshouldn’t，wasaboutthebest—dressedan’best—appearin’coupletherewaspresent。
Also，Iguesslikely，they’restartin’outwithasgoodprospectsasanybridean’groomthat’swalkedupthemiddleaisleo’themeetin’—houseformanyayear……How’dyoulikethatBostonsingerthattheWilsonsbroughthere，Abby？——Waitaminute，isCephas，ortheDeacon，tendin’storethisafter—noon？\"
\"TheDeacon；Cephasispaintin’uptotheMills。\"
\"Well，MarkWilson’shorsean’buggyismeanderin’slowlydownAuntBetty—Jack’shill，an’Markisstudyin’theroadasifhewaslookin’forafour—leafedclover。\"
\"He’llhitchatthetavern，ortheEdgewoodstore，an’waithischancetogetawordwithPatience，\"saidAuntAbby。\"HeknowswhenshetakesmilktotheMorrills’，orbuttertotheparsonage；
alsowhensheeatsan’drinksan’winkshereyean’ketchesherbreathan’liftsherfoot。Nowhe’sdisappearedan’we’llwait……Why，astothatBostonsinger，——an’bytheway，theysayEllenWilson’sgoin’totakelessonsofherthiswinter，——shekindo’bewilderedme，Lyddy！Ofcourse，Iain’tneverbeentoanycities，soIdon’tfeelaltogetherfreetocriticise；butwhatdidyouthinkofher，whensherunupsohighthere，onetime？Idon’tknowhowhighshewent，butIguesstherewa’n’tnohighertogo！\"
\"Itmademekindo’nervous，\"allowedMrs。Day。
\"Nervous！Bart’an’Ibrokeoutinacoldsweat！Hesaidshecouldn’tholdacandletoWaitstillBaxter。Butit’sthatlittlefly—awayWilsongirlthat’llgetthelessons，an’Waitstillwillhavetousehervoicecallin’theDeaconhometodinner。Thingsain’tdividedanytoowellinthisworld，Lyddy。\"
\"Waitstill’sgotthevoice，butshelacksthetrainin’。TheBostonsingerknowsherbusiness，I’llsaythatforher，\"saidMrs。Day。
\"She’sgotgoodstayin’power，\"agreedAuntAbby。\"Didyounoticehowsheheldontothathighnotewhenshe’dclumbwhereshewantedtogit？She’sgotbreathenoughtorunagristmill，thatgirlhas！Andhow’dshecomedown，whenshegotgoodandreadytostart？Why，shezig—zaggedan’saw—toothedthewholeway！Itkindo’mademyfleshcreep！\"
\"Iguessparto’thetrouble’swithuscountryfolks，\"Mrs。Dayresponded，\"forfolkssaidshesungrunsandtrillsbetter’nanywomanuptoBoston。\"
\"Runsan’trills，\"ejaculatedAbbyscornfully。\"Iwastalkin’
’boutsingin’notrunnin’。MynieceEllauptoParsonfieldhastakenthreetermsonthepianneran’I’veheerdherpractise。
Scaleshasgottobedone，nodoubt，butthey’doughttobedonetohome，wheretheybelong；aconcertain’tnoplacefor’em……There，whatdidItellyer？PatienceBaxter’scrossin’thebridgewithapailinherhand。She’sgotthateverlastin’
yeller—brown，linsey—woolseyon，an’awhite’cloud’wrappedaroundherheadwithcon’sid’ableredhairshowin’asusual。Youcanalwaysseeherfur’syoucanasunrise！AndtheregoesRodBoynton，chasin’behindasusual。ThoseBaxtergirlsmakeaperfectfoolo’thatboy，butIdon’ts’poseLoisBoynton’sgotwitenoughtomakemuchfussoverthepoorlittlecreeter！\"
MarkWilsoncouldcertainlyseePattyBaxterasfarashecouldasunrise，althoughhewasnotintimatelyacquaintedwiththatnaturalphenomenon。Hetookacircuitousroutefromhiswatch—tower，and，knowingwellthepointfromwhichtherecouldbenoespionagefromDeaconBaxter’sstorewindows，joinedPattyintheroad，tookthepailfromherhand，andwalkedupthehillbesideher。Ofcourse，thevillagecouldseethem，but，asAuntAbbyhadintimated，therewasn’taman，woman，orchildoneithersideoftheriverwhowouldn’thavetakenthepartoftheBaxtergirlsagainsttheirfather。
XXIV
PHOEBETRIUMPHS
MEANTIMEFeeblePhoebeDaywasdrivingherfather’shorseuptotheMillstobringCephasColehome。Itwasathrillingmoment，asortofoutwardandvisiblesignofaninwardandspiritualtie，fortheirbannsweretobepublishedthenextday，sowhatdiditmatterifthecommunity，nay，ifthewholeuniverse，speculatedastowhyshewasdrawingherbelovedbackfromhisdailytoil？
IthadbeenaneventfulautumnforCephas。AfterathirdrequestforthehandofMissPatienceBaxter，andarefusalofevenmorethancommondecisionandenergy，CephasturnedaboutfaceandemployedtheentiremonthofSeptemberinadeterminedassaultupontheaffectionsofMissLucyMorrill，butwithnobetteravail。Hisheartwasnotardentlyinvolvedinthissecondwooing，butwinterwasapproaching，hehadmovedhismotheroutofhersummerquartersbacktothemainhouse，andhedoggedlybeganpaperingtheellandfurnishingthekitchenwithoutdisclosingtohisrespectedparentstheidentityoftheladyforwhosecomforthewassohospitablypreparing。
Cephas’sbeliefintheholystateofmatrimonyasbeingtheonlyoneproperforaman，reallyoughttohavecommendedhimtotheopposite（andungrateful）sexmorethanitdid，andLucyMorrillheldasrespectfulanopinionoftheinstitutionanditsmanifoldadvantagesasCephashimself，butshewasinaveryunsettledframeofmindandnotatallsusceptibletowooing。ShehadastrongpreferenceforPhilipPerry，andheldanopinion，notaltogetherunfoundedinhumanexperience，thatincourseoftime，whenquitedesertedbyPattyBaxter，hisheartmightpossiblybecaughtontherebound。Itwasonlyachance，butLucywouldalmosthavepreferredremainingunmarried，eventothewitheringageoftwenty—five，ratherthannotbeatlibertytoacceptPhilipPerryincasesheshouldbeasked。
Cephastherefore，bythemiddleofOctober，couldbepicturesquelyandalliterativelydescribedasbeingrawfromrepeatedrejections。Hisbruisedheartandhisdespisedellliterallycriedoutfortheappreciationsolongandblindlywithheld。NowallatoncePhoebedisclosedasecondvirtue；herfirstandonlyone，hitherto，intheeyesofCephas，havingbeenanabilitytogetonwithhismother，afeatinwhichmanyhadmadeaneffortandfewindeedhadsucceeded。Phoebe，itseems，hadalwayssecretlyadmired，respected，andlovedCephasCole！
Neversinceherpaleandsomewhatglassyblueeyehadopenedonlifehadshebeheldabeingshecouldsoadoreifencouragedintheattitude。
ThemomentthisunusualandunexpectedpoulticewasreallyappliedtoCephas’swounds，theybegantoheal。Inthecourseofamonththemostordinaryobservercouldhaveperceivedaphysicalchangeinhim。Hecringednomore，butheldhisheadhigher；hisbackstraightened；hisvoicedevelopedagruff，assertivenote，likethatofasternRomanfather；helethismoustachegrow，andsometimes，inhismostrecklessmoments，twiddledtheendofit。Finallyheswaggered；butthatwasonlyafterPhoebehadacceptedhimandtoldhimthatifagirltraversedtheentirelengthoftheSacoRiver（whichshepresumedtobethelongestintheworld，theAmazonnotbeingfamiliartoher），shecouldnothopetofindhisequalasahusband。
Andthencongratulationsbegantopourin！Wasevermarriagesofortuitous！TheColes’farmjoinedthatoftheDaysandtheunionbetweenthetwoonlychildrenwouldcementthefriendshipbetweenthefamilies。ThefactthatUncleBartwasajoiner，Cephasapainter，andAbelDayamasonandbricklayermadethealliancealmostprovidentialinitsbusinessopportunities。Phoebe’sMassachusettsauntsentacompleteoutfitofgilt—edgedchina，aclock，andamahoganychamberset。AuntAbbyrelinquishedtotheyoungcoupleabedroomandasparechamberinthe\"mainpart，\"
whiletheDayssuppliedlive—geesefeathersandtableandbed—linenwithpositiveprodigality。AuntAbbytrodtheairlikeoneinspired。\"Balmy\"istheonlyadjectivethatcoulddescribeher。
\"IfonlyIcould’a’lookedahead，\"smiledUncleBartquizzicallytohimself，\"I’d’a’hadthirteensonsanddaughtersan’marriedoffoneof’emeveryyear。Thatwould’a’madeAbby’sgoodtemperkindo’permanent。\"
Cephaswascontent，too。Therewasagooddealinbeingsettledandhaving\"thewholedoggonedbusiness\"offyourhands。Phoebelookedaverydifferentcreaturetohimintheselatterdays。Hereyeswerejustaspale，ofcourse，buttheywerebrighter，andtheyradiatedloveforhim，anexpressioninthefemaleeyethathehadthusfarbeensingularlyunfortunateinsecuring。Shestillheldhermouthslightlyopen，butCephasthoughtthatitmightbepermissible，perhapsafterthreemonthsofweddedbliss，torequesthertobemorecarefulinclosingit。Hebelieved，too，thatshewouldmakeanefforttodosojusttopleasehim；
whereasaman’slifeorpropertywouldnotbesafeforasingleinstantifheaskedMissPatienceBaxtertoclosehermouth，notifhehadbeenmarriedtoherforthirtytimesthreemonths！
CephasdidnotthinkofPattyanylongerwithbitterness，inthesedays，beingoftheopinionthatshewaspunishedenoughinobservinghisowngrowingpopularityandprosperity。
\"IfsheshouldseethatmahoganychambersetgoingintotheellI
guessshe’dbegladenoughtochangehertune！\"thoughtCephas，exultingly；andthentheresuddenlyshotthroughhismindthepassingfancy——\"Iwonderifshewould！\"Hepromptlybanishedtheinfamoussuggestionhowever，reinforcinghisvirtuewiththereflectionthatthechambersetwasPhoebe’s，anyway，andthemarriagedayappointed，andtheinvitationsgivenout，andthewedding—cakebeingbaked，aloafatatime，byhismotherandMrs。Day。
AsamatteroffactPattywouldhavehadnoeyesforPhoebe’smagnificentmahogany，evenhadthecartthatcarrieditpassedheronthehillwheresheandMarkWilsonwerewalking。Herpromisetomarryhimwasafewweeksoldnow，andhisarmencircledherslenderwaistunderthebrownhomespuncape。Thatinitselfwasanewsensationandgaveherthedelicioussenseofbelongingtosomebodywhovaluedherhighly，andassuredherofhissentimentsclearlyandfrequently，bothbywordanddeed。
Life，dullgraylife，wasgoingtochangeitshueforherpresently，andnotlongafter，shehoped，forWaitstill，too！Itneededonlyabrighter，amoredauntlesscourage；alittlefaiththatnettles，whenfirmlygrasped，hurtthehandless，andafairerfuturewoulddawnforbothofthem。TheDeaconwasasharpernettlethanshehadevermeddledwithbefore，butinthesedays，whentheactualcontacthadnotyetoccurred，shefeltsureofherselfandlongedforthemomentwhenherpluckshouldbetestedandproved。
The\"publishing\"ofCephasandhisthirdchoice，theirdullwalkuptheaisleofthemeeting—housebeforeanadmiringthrong，ontheSundaywhenPhoebewould\"appearbride，\"allthisseemedverytameascomparedwiththedreamsofthisardentandadventurouspairofloverswhohadgoneaboutfordaysharboringsecretsgreaterandmoredaring，theythought，thanhadeverbeenbreathedbeforewithinthehearingofSacoWater。
XXV
LOVE’SYOUNGDREAMS
ITwasnotanafternoonforday—dreams，fortherewasachillintheairandagraysky。OnlyaweekbeforethehillsalongtherivermighthavebeenthewallsoftheNewJerusalem，shininglikeredgold；nowthegloryhaddepartedanditwasanakedworld，withemptynestshangingtoboughsthatnotlongagohadbeengreenwithsummer。Theoldelmbythetavern，thathadbeenwrappedinabrighttrailofscarletwoodbine，wasstrippedalmostbareofitsautumnbeauty。Hereandthereamapleshowedaremnantofcrimson，andastalwartoakhadsomeragsofrussetstillclingingtoitsgauntboughs。Thehickorytreesflungoutafewyellowflagsfromtheendsoftheirtwigs，buttheforestsworeatatteredanddishevelledlook，andthewitheredleavesthatlayindriedheapsuponthefrozenground，drivenhitherandthitherbyeverygustofthenorthwind，gavetheunthinkingheartathrobofforeboding。Yetthegladsummerlaborofthosesameleaveswasfinishedaccordingtothelawthatgovernedthem，andthefruitwastheirsandtheseedforthecomingyear。Nobreezehadbeenstrongenoughtoshakethemfromthetreetilltheywerereadytoforsakeit。Nowtheyhadseveredthebondthathadheldthemsotightlyandfluttereddowntogivetheearthalltheirseason’searnings。Oneveryhillside，ineveryvalleyandglen，theleavesthathadmadethesummerlandscapebeautiful，laycontentedly：
\"Wheretherainmightrainuponthem，Wherethesunmightshineuponthem，Wherethewindmightsighuponthem，Andthesnowmightdieuponthem。\"
Brown，withered，dead，buriedinsnowtheymightbe，yettheywereministeringtoalltheleavesofthenextspring—time，bequeathingtotheminturnthebeautythathadbeentheirs；theleafycanopiesforcountlesssongbirds，thegratefulshadeformanandbeast。
YounglovethoughtlittleofNature’smiracles，andheartsthatbeathighandfastwerewarmenoughtoforgetthebleakwindandgatheringclouds。Iftherewerenakedtrees，weretherenotfullbarrelsofapplesineverycellar？Iftherewasnothingbutstubbleinthefrozenfields，why，therewasplentyofwheatandcornatthemillallreadyforgrinding。Thecoldairmadeonelongforacheeryhomeandfireside，thecrackleofahearth—log，thebubblingofasteamingkettle；andPattyandMarkclungtogetherastheywalkedalong，makingbrightimagesofalifetogether，snug，warm，andhappy。
Pattywasacapriciouscreature，butallherchangesweresuddenandendearingones，captivatingthosewholovedhermorethanamonotonousandunchangingvirtue。Anylittleshower，withPatty，alwaysendedwitharainbowthatmadethelandscapemoreenchantingthanbefore。Oflateherlittlecoquetriesandpetulanceshaddisappearedasifbymagic。Shehadbeenmeltedsomehowfromirresponsiblegirlhoodintowomanhood，andthat，too，bytheardentaffectionofaveryordinaryyoungmanwhohadnogreatgiftsavethatoflovingPattygreatly。Thelovehadserveditspurpose，inanotherway，too，forunderitsinfluenceMark’sownmanhoodhadbroadenedanddeepened。HelongedtobindPattytohimforgoodandall，tocapturethebrightbirdwhoseflutteringwingsandburnishedplumagesocapturedhissensesandstirredhisheart，buthislongingshadchangedwiththequalityofhisloveandheglowedatthethoughtofdeliveringthegirlfromherdrearysurroundingsandgivingherthetenderness，theeaseandcomfort，theinnocentgayety，thathernaturecraved。
\"Youwon’tfailme，Pattydarling？\"hewassayingatthismoment。
\"Nowthatourplansarefinallymade，withneveraweakpointanywhereasfarasIcansee，myheartissosetuponcarryingthemoutthateveryhourofwaitingseemsanage！\"
\"No，Iwon’tfail，Mark；butIneverknowthedaythatfatherwillgototownuntilthenightbefore。Icanalwayshearhimmakinghispreparationsinthebarnandtheshed，andorderingWaitstillhereandthere。HeisasexcitedasifhewasgoingtoBostoninsteadofMilltown。\"
\"Thenightbeforewilldo。Iwillwatchthehouseeveryeveningtillyouhangawhitesignalfromyourwindow。\"
\"Itwon’tbewhite，\"saidPatty，whowouldbemischievousonherdeathbed；\"mySunday—go—to—meetin’petticoatistoogrand，andeverythingelsethatwehaveisyellow。\"
\"Ishallseeit，whatevercoloritis，youcanbesureofthat！\"
saidMarkgallantly。\"Thenit’sdecidedthatnextmorningI’11
waitatthetavernfromsunrise，andwheneveryourfatherandWaitstillhavedrivenupSacoHill，I’llcomeandpickyouupandwe’11beofflikeastreakoflightningacrossthehillstoNewHampshire。HowluckythatRiverboroisonlythirtymilesfromthestateline！——Itlookslikesnow，andhowIwishitwouldbesomethingmorethanaflurry；aregularwhizzing，whirringstormthatwouldpacktheroadsandletusslipoverthemwithoursleigh—bellsringing！\"
\"Ishouldlikethat，fortheywouldbeouronlywedding—bells。
Oh！Mark！WhatifWaitstillshouldn’tgo，afterall：thoughI
heardfathertellherthatheneededhertobuythingsforthestore，andthattheywouldn’tbebacktillafternightfall。JusttothinkofbeingmarriedwithoutWaitstill！\"
\"YoucandowithoutWaitstillonthisoneoccasion，betterthanyoucanwithoutme，\"laughedMark，pinchingPatty’scheek。\"I’vegiventhetownclerkduenoticeandIhaveafriendtomeetmeathisoffice。Heisgoingtolendmehishorseforthedrivehome，andweshallchangebackthenextweek。Thatwillgiveusafreshhorseeachway，andwe’llflylikethewind，snowornosnow，WhenwecomedownGuideBoardHillthatnight，Patty，weshallbemanandwife；isn’tthatwonderful？\"
\"WeshallbemanandwifeinNewHampshire，butnotinMaine，yousay，\"Pattyremindedhimdolefully。\"Itdoesseemdreadfulthatwecan’tbemarriedinourownstate，andhavetogodanglingaboutwiththissecretonourminds，dayandnight；butitcan’tbehelped！You’lltrynottoeventhinkofmeasyourwifetillwegotoPortsmouthtolive，won’tyou？\"
You’reaskingtoomuchwhenyousayI’mnottothinkofyouasmywife，forIshallthinkofnothingelse，butI’vegivenyoumysolemnpromise，\"saidMarkstoutly，\"andI’llkeepitassureasIlive。We’llbelegallymarriedbythelawsofNewHampshire，butwewon’tthinkofitasamarriagetillItellyourfatherandmine，andwedriveawayoncemoretogether。Thattimeitwillbeinthesightofeverybody，withourheadsintheair。I’vegotthelittlehouseinPortsmouthallready，Patty：it’ssmall，butit’sinanicepartofthetown。Portsmouthisaprettyplace，butit’llbeagreatdealprettierwhenithasMrs。MarkWilsonlivinginit。WecanbemarriedoveragaininMaine，afterwards，ifyourheartissetuponit。I’mwillingtomarryyouineverystateoftheUnion，sofarasIamconcerned。\"
\"Ithinkyou’vebeensokindandgoodandthoughtful，Markdear，\"
saidPatty，morefondlyandmeltinglythanshehadeverspokentohimbefore，\"andsoclevertoo！IdorespectyouforgettingthatgoodpositioninPortsmouthandbeingabletosetupforyourselfatyourage。Ishouldn’twonderabitifyouwereajudgesomeday，andthenwhataproudgirlIshallbe！\"
Patty’spraisewasbestowednonetoofrequently，anditsoundedverysweetintheyoungman’sears。
\"IdobelieveIcangeton，withyoutohelpme，Patty，\"hesaid，pressingherarmmorecloselytohisside，andlookingdownardentlyintoherradiantface。\"You’reagreatdealclevererthanIam，butIhaveafacultyforthebusinessofthelaw，somyfathersays，andafacultyformoney—making，too。Andevenifwehavetobegininasmallway，mysalarywillbeacertainty，andwe’11workuptogether。Icanseeyouinayellowsatindress，stiffenoughtostandalone！\"
\"Itmustbewhitesatin，ifyouplease，notyellow！Afterhavingusedahundredandtenyardsofshop—wornyellowcalicoonmyselfwithintwoyears，Ineverwanttowearthatcoloragain。IfonlyIcouldcometoyoubetterprovided，shesighed，withthesuggestionoftearsinhervoice。\"IfI’dbeenacommonservantI
couldhavesavedsomethingfrommywagestobemarriedon；I
haven’tevengotanythingtobemarriedIN！\"
\"I’11getyouanythingyouwantinPortlandto—morrow。\"
\"Certainlynot；I’dratherbemarriedinragsthanhaveyouspendyourmoneyuponmebeforehand！\"
\"Remembertohaveaboxofyourbelongingspackedandslippedundertheshedsomewhere。Youcan’tbecertainwhatyourfatherwillsayordowhenthetimecomesfortellinghim，andIwantyoutobereadytoleaveonamoment’snotice。\"
\"Iwill；I’lldoeverythingyousay，Mark，butareyousurethatwehavethoughtofeveryotherway？Idosohatebeingunderhanded。\"
\"Everyotherway！Iammorethanwillingtoaskyourfather，butweknowhewouldtreatmewithcontempt，forhecan’tbearthesightofme！Hewouldprobablylockyouupandfeedyouonbreadandwater。Thatbeingthestateofthings，howcanItellourplanstomyownfather？Heneverwouldlookwithfavoronmyrunningawaywithyou；andmotheris，bynature，setupondoingthingshandsomelyandinproperorder。Fatherwouldsayourelopementwouldbeputtingusbothwrongbeforethecommunity，andhe’dadvisemetowait。’Youarebothyoung’——Icanhearhimannouncinghisconvictionsnow，asclearlyasifhewasstandinghereintheroad——’Youarebothyoungandyoucanwellaffordtowaituntilsomethingturnsup。’Asifwehadn’twaitedandwaitedfromalleternity！\"
\"Yes，wehavebeenengagedtobemarriedforatleastfiveweeks，\"saidPatty，withanupwardglancepeculiartoherownsparklingface，——onethatalwaysintoxicatedMark。\"Iamseventeenandahalf；yourfathercouldn’texpectaconfirmedoldmaidlikemetowasteanymoretime。
ButIneverwoulddothis——this——sudden，unrespectablething，iftherewasanyotherway。EverythingdependsonmykeepingitsecretfromWaitstill，butshedoesn’tsuspectanythingyet。Shethinksofmeasnothingbutachildstill。DoyousupposeEllenwouldgowithus，justtogivemealittlecomfort？\"
\"Shemight，\"saidMark，afterreflectingamoment。\"Sheisverydevotedtoyou，andperhapsshecouldkeepasecret；sheneverhas，butthere’salwaysafirsttime。Youcan’tgoonaddingtotheparty，though，asifitwasacandy—pull！WecannottakeLucyMorrillandPhoebeDayandCephasCole，becauseitwouldbetoohardonthehorse；andbesides，Imightgetembarrassedatthetownclerk’sofficeandmarrythewronggirl；oryoumightswopmeoffforCephas！ButI’lltellEllenifyousayso；she’sgotplentyofgrit。\"
\"Don’tjokeaboutit，Mark，don’t。Ishouldn’tmissWaitstillsomuchifIhadEllen，andhowhappyIshallbeifsheapprovesofmeforasisterandthinksyourmotherandfatherwilllikemeintime。\"
\"Thereneverwasacreaturebornintotheworldthatwouldn’tloveyou，Patty！\"
\"Idon’tknow；lookatAuntAbbyCole！\"saidPattypensively。
\"Well，itdoesnotseemasifamarriagethatisn’tgoodinRiverborowasreallydecent！HowtiresomeofMainetowantallthosedaysofpublicnotice；peoplemustsooftenwanttogetmarriedinaminute。IfIthinkaboutanythingtoolongIalwaysgetoutofthenotion。\"
\"Iknowyoudo；that’swhatI’mafraidof！\"——andMark’svoiceshoweddecidednervousness。\"Youwon’tgetoutofthenotionofmarryingme，willyou，Pattydear？\"
\"Marryingyouismorethana’notion，’Mark，\"saidPattysoberly。
\"I’monlyalittlepastseventeen，butI’mfarolderbecauseofthedifficultiesI’vehad。Idon’twonderyouspeakofmy’notions。’Iwasaslightasafeatherinallmydealingswithyouatfirst。\"
\"SowasIwithyou！Ihadn’tgrownup，Patty。\"
\"ThenIcametoknowyoubetterandseehowyousympathizedwithWaitstill’stroublesandmine。Icouldn’tloveanybody，I
couldn’tmarryanybody，whodidn’tfeelthatthingsatourhousecan’tgoonastheyare！Fatherhashadagoodlongtrial！Threewivesandtwodaughtershavedonetheirbesttolivewithhim，andfailed。Iamnotwillingtodieforhim，asmymotherdid，norhaveWaitstillkilledifIcanhelpit。Sometimesheislikeamanwhohaslosthissensesandsometimesheisonlygrimandquietandcruel。Ifhetakesourmarriagewithoutaterriblescene，Mark，perhapsitwillencourageWaitstilltobreakherchainsasIhavemine。\"
\"There’ssuretobeanawfulrow，\"Marksaid，asonewhohadforecastedalltheprobabilities。\"Itwouldn’tmakeanydifferenceifyoumarriedthePrinceofWales；nothingwouldsuityourfatherbutselectingthemanandmakingallthearrangements；andthenhewouldneverchooseanyonewhowouldn’ttendthestoreandworkonthefarmforhimwithoutwages。\"
\"Waitstillwillneverrunaway；sheisn’tlikeme。Shewillsitandsitthere，slavingandsuffering，tilldoomsday；fortheonethatlovesherisn’tfreelikeyou！\"
\"YoumeanIvoryBoynton？Ibelieveheworshipsthegroundshewalkson。IlikehimbetterthanIused，andIunderstandhimbetter。Oh！butI’maluckyyoungdogtohaveakind，liberalfatherandabitofmoneyputbytodowithasIchoose。IfI
hadn’t，I’dbeeatingmyheartoutlikeIvory！\"