\"AllsummerlongIhavebeentryingtoremembersomething；
somethinguntruethatyouhavebeenbelieving，somefalsehoodforwhichIwasresponsible。Ihavepursuedandpursuedit，butithasalwaysescapedme。Onceitwasclearasdaylight，forRodmanreadmefromtheBibleaplainanswertoallthequestionsthattorturedme。\"
\"Thatmusthavebeenthenightthatshefainted，\"thoughtIvory。
\"WhenIawokenextmorningfrommylongsleep，theoldpuzzlehadcomeback，athousandtimesworsethanbefore，forthenIknewthatIhadheldtheclueinmyownhandandhadlostit。Now，praiseGod！Iknowthetruth，andyou，theonlyonetowhomIcantellit，arecloseathand。\"
Ivorylookedathismotherandsawthattheveilthathadseparatedthemmentallyseemedtofivevanishedinthenightthathadpassed。Oftenandoftenithadblownaway，asitwere，forthefractionofamomentandthenblownbackagain。Nowhereyesmethiswithanaltogethernewclearnessthatstartledhim，whileherhealthcamewitheaseandsheseemedstrongerthanformanydays。
\"YourememberthewinterIwashereatthefarmalone，whenyouwereattheAcademy？\"
\"Yes；itwasthenthatIcamehomeandfoundyousoterriblyill。
Doyouthinkweneedgobacktothatoldtimenow，motherdear？\"
\"Yes，Imust，Imust！OnemorningIreceivedastrangeletter，bearingnosignature，inwhichthewritersaidthatifIwishedtoseemyhusbandIhadonlytogotoacertainaddressinBrentville，NewHampshire。TheletterwentontosaythatMr。
AaronBoyntonwasillandlongedfornothingsomuchastospeakwithme；buttherewerereasonswhyhedidnotwishtoreturntoEdgewood，——wouldIcometohimwithoutdelay。\"
Ivorynowsatstraightinhischairandlistenedkeenly，feelingthatthiswastobenovague，uncertain，andmisleadingmemory，butsomethingtrueandtangible。
\"Theletterexcitedmegreatlyafteryourfather’slongabsenceandsilence。Iknewitcouldmeannothingbutsorrow，butalthoughIwashalfillatthetime，myplaindutywastogo，soIthought，andgowithoutmakinganyexplanationinthevillage。\"
AllthiswasnewtoIvoryandhehunguponhismother’swords，dreadingyethopingforthelightthattheymightsheduponthepast。
\"IarrivedatBrentvillequiteexhaustedwiththejourneyandweigheddownbyanxietyanddread。Ifoundthehousementionedintheletteratseveno’clockintheevening，andknockedatthedoor。Acommon，hard—featuredwomanansweredtheknockand，seemingtoexpectme，usheredmein。Idonotremembertheroom；
Irememberonlyachildleaningpatientlyagainstthewindow—silllookingoutintothedark，andthattheplacewasbareandcheerless。
\"IcametocalluponMr。AaronBoynton，’Isaid，withmyheartsinkinglowerandlowerasIspoke。ThewomanopenedadoorintothenextroomandwhenIwalkedin，insteadofseeingyourfather，I
confrontedahaggard，death—strickenyoungwomansittingupinbed，hergreateyesbrightwithpain，herlipsaswhiteasherhollowcheeks，andherlong，blackhairstreamingoverthepillow。TheverysightofherstruckaknelltothelittlehopeI
hadofsoothingyourfather’ssickbedandforgivinghimifhehaddonemeanywrong。
\"’Well，youcame，asIthoughtyouwould，’saidthegirl，lookingmeoverfromheadtofootinawaythatsomehowmademeburnwithshame。’NowsitdowninthatchairandhearwhatI’vegottosaywhileI’vegotthestrengthtosayit。Ihaven’tthetimenorthedesiretoputaglossonit。AaronBoyntonisn’there，asyouplainlysee，butthat’snotmyfault，forhebelongshereasmuchasanywhere，thoughhewouldn’thavemuchinterestinadyingwoman。Ifyouhavesufferedonaccountofhim，sohaveIandyouhaven’thadthispainboringintoyouandeatingyourlifeawayformonths，asIhave。’
\"Ipitiedher，sheseemedsodistraught，butIwasinterrorofherallthesame，andurgedhertotellherstorycalmlyandI
woulddomybesttohearitinthesameway。
\"’Calm，’sheexclaimed，’withthisagonytearingmetopieces！
Well，tomakebeginningandendinone，AaronBoyntonwasmyhusbandforthreeyears。’
\"Icaughtholdofthechairtokeepmyselffromfallingandcried：’Idonotbelieveit！’’Believeitornot，sheansweredscornfully，’itmakesnodifferencetome，butIcangiveyoutwentyproofsinasmanyseconds。WemetataCochranemeetingandhechosemefromalltheothersashistruewife。Fortwoyearswetravelledtogether，butlongbeforetheycametoanendtherewasnohappinessforeitherofus。Hehadaconscience——notmuchofaone，butjustenoughtokeephimmiserable。AtlastI
felthewasnotbelievingthedoctrineshepreachedandIcaughthimtryingtogetnewsofyouandyourboy，justbecauseyouwereoutofreach，andneglectingmyboyandme，whohadgivenupeverythingtowanderwithhimandliveonwhateverthebrethrenandsisterschosetogiveus。’
\"’Sotherewasachild，aboy，’Igasped。’Did——didhelive？’
’He’sinthenextroom，’sheanswered，’andit’shimIbroughtyouherefor。AaronBoyntonhasservedusboththesame。HeleftyouformeandmeforHeavenknowswho。IfIcouldliveI
wouldn’taskanyfavors，ofyouleastofall，butIhaven’tapennyintheworld，thoughIshan’tneedoneverylong。Myfriendthat’snursingmehasn’tarooftoherheadandshewouldn’tshareitwiththeboyifshehad——she’sabigotedOrthodox。’
\"’Butwhatdoyouexpectmetodo？’Iaskedangrily，forshewasstabbingmewitheveryword。
\"’Theboyisyourhusband’schildandhealwaysrepresentedyouasasaintuponearth。Iexpectyoutotakehimhomeandprovideforhim。Hedoesn’tmeanverymuchtome——justenoughsothatI
don’trelishhisgoingtothepoorhouse，that’sall。’
\"’He’llgotosomethingverylikethatifhecomestomine，’I
said。
\"’Don’tworrymewithtalk，forIcan’tstandit，’shewailed，clutchingathernightgownandflingingbackherhair。’EitheryoutakethechildorIsendsomebodytoEdgewoodwithhim，somebodytotellthewholestory。SomeoftheCochranitescansupporthimifyouwon’t；or，attheworst，AaronBoynton’stowncantakecareofhisson。Thedoctorhasgivenmetwodaystolive。Ifit’saminutelongerI’vewarnedhimandIwarnyou，thatI’llenditmyself；andifyoudon’ttaketheboyI’lldothesameforhim。He’sagoodsightbetteroffdeadthanknockingabouttheworldalone；he’sinnocentandthere’snosenseinhisbeingpunishedforthesinsofotherfolks。’\"
\"Iseeitall！WhydidIneverthinkofitbefore；mypoor，poorRod！\"saidIvory，clenchinghishandsandburyinghisheadinthem。
\"Don’tgrieve，Ivory；ithasallturnedoutsomuchbetterthanwecouldhavehoped；justlistentotheend。Shewasfrightfultohearandtolookat，thegirlwas，thoughallthetimeIcouldfeelthatshemusthavehadagipsybeautyandvigorthatansweredtosomethinginyourfather。
\"’Goalongoutnow，’shecriedsuddenly。’Ican’tstandanybodynear。ThedoctornevergivesmehalfenoughmedicineandforthehourbeforehecomesIfairlydieforlackofit——thoughlittlehecares！Goupstairsandhaveyoursleepandto—morrowyoucanmakeupyourmind。’
\"’Youdon’tleavememuchfreedomtodothat，’Itriedtoanswer；
butsheinterruptedme，rockingherbodytoandfro。’Neitherofuswi11everseeAaronBoyntonagain；younomorethanI。He’sintheWest，andamanwithtwofamiliesandnomeansofprovidingforthemdoesn’tcomebackwherehe’sknown。——Comeandtakeheraway，Eliza！Takeheraway，quick！’shecalled。
\"Istumbledoutoftheroomandthewomanwavedmeupstairs。’Youmustn’tmindHetty，’sheapologized；’sheneverhadagooddispositionatthebest，butshe’sfranticwiththepainnow，andgoodreason，too。It’saboutoverandI’11bethankfulwhenitis。You’dbetterswallowtheshameandtakethechild；Ican’tandwon’thavehimandit’11beeasyenoughforyoutosayhebelongstosomeofyourownfolks。’
\"BythistimeIwasmentallybewildered。Whentheironfirstenteredmysoul，whenIfirstheardthetruthaboutyourfather，atthatmomentmymindgaveway——Iknowitnow。\"
\"Poor，poormother！Mypoor，gentlelittlemother！\"murmuredIvorybrokenly，asheaskedherhand。
\"Don’tcry，myson；itisallpast；thesorrowandthebitternessandthestruggle。Iwilljustfinishthestoryandthenwe’11
closethebookforever。Thewomangavemesomebreadandtea，andIflungmyselfonthebedwithoutundressing。Idon’tknowhowlongafterwarditwas，butthedooropenedandalittleboystolein；asad，strange，dark—eyedlittleboywhosaid：’CanIsleepuphere？Mother’sscreamingandI’mafraid。’Heclimbedtothecouch。Icoveredhimwithablanket，andIsoonheardhisdeepbreathing。Butlaterinthenight，whenImusthavefallenasleepmyself，Isuddenlyawokeandfelthimlyingbesideme。HehaddraggedtheblanketalongandcreptuponthebedtogetclosetomysideforthewarmthIcouldgive，orthecomfortofmynearness。Thetouchofhimalmostbrokemyheart；Icouldnotpushthelittlecreatureawaywhenhewaslyingtheresonearandwarmandconfiding——he，allunconsciousoftheagonyhismereexistencewastome。ImusthavesleptagainandwhenthedaybrokeIwasalone。IthoughtthepresenceofthechildinthenightwasadreamandIcouldnotrememberwhereIwas，norwhyI
wasthere。\"
\"Mother，dearmother，don’ttellmeanymoreto—night。Ifearforyourstrength，\"urgedIvory，hiseyesfulloftearsattheremembranceofhersufferings。
\"Thereisonlyalittlemoreandtheweightwillbeoffmyheartandonyours，mypoorson。WouldthatIneednottellyou！ThehousewasstillandIthoughtatfirstthatnoonewasawake，butwhenIopenedthesitting—roomdoorthechildrantowardsmeandtookmyhandasthewomancameinfromthesick—room。’Gointothekitchen，Rodman，’shesaid，’andlaceupyourboots；you’regoingrightoutwiththislady。Hettydiedinthenight，’shecontinuedimpassively。’Thedoctorwashereaboutteno’clockandI’veneverseenhersobad。Hegaveherabigdoseofsleepingpowderandputanotherinthetabledrawerformetomixforhertowardsmorning。Shewashelplesstomove，wethought，butallthesameshemusthavegotoutofbedwhenmybackwasturnedandtakenthepowderdryonhertongue，foritwasgonewhenIlookedforit。Itdidn’thastenthingsmuchandIdon’tblameher。Ifevertherewasawild，recklesscreatureitwasHettyRodman，butI，whoamjusttheopposite，wouldhavedonethesameifI’dbeenher。’
\"Shehurriedlygavemeacupofcoffee，and，puttingacoatandacapontheboy，literallypushedmeoutofthehouse。’I’vegottoreportthingstothedoctor，’shesaid，’andyou’rebetteroutoftheway。Godownthatsidestreettothestationandmindyousaytheboybelongedtoyoursisterwhodiedandlefthimtoyou。
You’reaCochranite，ain’tyou？SowasHetty，andthey’reallsisters，soyou’llbetellingnolies。Good—bye，Rodman，beagoodboyanddon’tbeanytroubletothelady。’
\"HowIfoundthestationIdonotknow，norhowImadethejourney，norwhereItookthestage—coach。Thesnowbegantofallandbynoontherewasadriftingstorm。IcouldnotrememberwhereIwasgoing，norwhotheboywas，forjustasthesnowwaswhirlingoutside，soitwaswhirlinginmybrain。\"
\"Mother，Icanhardlybeartohearanymore；itistooterrible！\"
criedIvory，risingfromhischairandpacingthefloor。
\"IcanrecallnothingofanyaccounttillIawokeinmyownbedweeksafterwards。Thestrangelittleboywasthere，butMrs。DayandDr。PerrytoldmewhatImusthavetoldthem——thathewasthechildofmydeadsister。ThosewerethelastwordsutteredbythewomaninBrentville；Icarriedthemstraightthroughmyillnessandbroughtthemoutontheothersidemorefirmlyintrenchedthanever。\"
\"Ifonlythetruthhadcomebacktoyousooner！\"sighedIvory，comingbacktoherbedside。\"Icouldhavehelpedyoutobearitalltheseyears。Sorrowissomuchlighterwhenyoucanshareitwithsomeoneelse。AndthegirlwhodiedwascalledHettyRodman，then，andshesimplygavethechildherlastname？\"
\"Yes，poorsufferingcreature。Ifeelnoangeragainsthernow；
ithasburneditselfallaway。NordoIfeelanybitternessagainstyourfather。Iforgotallthismiserablestoryforsolong，lovingandwatchingforhimallthetime，thatitisasifitdidnotbelongtomyownlife，buthadtodowithsomeunhappystranger。Canyouforgive，too，Ivory？\"
\"Icantry，\"heanswered。\"GodknowsIoughttobeabletoifyoucan！\"
\"AndwillitturnyouawayfromRod？\"
\"No，itdrawsmenearertohimthanever。Heshallneverknowthetruth——whyshouldhe？Justashecreptclosetoyouthatnight，allunconsciousofthereasonyouhadforshrinkingfromhim，sohehascreptclosetomeintheseyearsoftrial，whenyourmindhasbeenwandering。\"
\"Lifeissostrange。Tothinkthatthischild，ofallothers，shouldhavebeenacomforttoyou。TheLord’shandisinit！\"
whisperedMrs。Boyntonfeebly。
\"Hisboyishbeliefinme，hiscompanionship，havekeptthebreathofhopealiveinme——that’sallIcansay。\"
\"TheBiblestoryishappeningoveragaininourlives，then。
Don’tyourememberthatAaron’srodbuddedandblossomedandborefruit，andthatthemiraclekepttherebelsfrommurmuring？\"
\"Thisrebelneverwillmurmuragain，mother，andIvoryrosetoleavetheroom。\"Nowthatyouhaveshedyourburdenyouwillgrowstrongerandlifewillbealljoy，forWaitstillwillcometoussoonandwecanshakeoffthesemiseriesandbeahappyfamilyoncemore。\"
\"Itisshewhohashelpedmemosttofindthethread；pouringsympathyandstrengthintome，nursingme，lovingme，becauseshelovedmywonderfulson。Oh！howblestamongwomenIamtohavelivedlongenoughtoseeyouhappy！\"
AndasIvorykissedhismotherandblewoutthecandle，shewhisperedtoherself：\"Evenso，LordJesus，comequickly！\"
XXXIV
THEDEACON’SWATERLOO
MRS。MASON’SwelcometoWaitstillwasunexpectedlyhearty——muchheartierthanitwouldhavebeenSixmonthsbefore，whensheregardedMrs。Boyntonaslittlelessthanaharmlesslunatic，ofnouseasaneighbor；andwhensheknewnothingmoreofIvorythanshecouldgatherbyhisoccasionaldriveorwalkpastherdoorwithacivilgreeting。Rodmanhadbeenuntillatelytheonlymemberofthefamilyforwhomshehadafriendlyfeeling；butallthathadchangedinthelastfewweeks，whenshehadbeenallowedtotakeahandintheBoyntons’affairs。Astothisnewestdevelopmentinthelifeoftheirhousehold，shehadoncebeenyoungherself，andtheveriestblockofstonewouldhavebecomehumanwhenthetwoloversdroveuptothedoorandtoldtheirexcitingstory。
Ivorymadehimselfquicklyathome，andhelpedtheoldladytogetaroomreadyforWaitstillbeforehedrovebackforalookathismotherandthenontocarryouthisimpetuousandromanticschemeofroutingoutthetownclerkandannouncinghisintendedmarriage。
345
Waitstillsleptliketheshepherdboyin\"ThePilgrim’sProgress，\"withthe\"herbcalledHeart’sEase\"inherbosom。SheopenedhereyesnextmorningfromthedepthsofMrs。Mason’sbestfeatherbed，andlookedwonderinglyabouttheroom，withallitsunaccustomedsurroundings。Sheheardtherattleoffire—ironsandtheflatterofdishesbelow；thefirsttimeinallherwoman’slifethatpreparationsforbreakfasthadevergreetedherearswhenshehadnotbeenanactiveparticipatorinthem。
Shelayquitestillforaquarterofanhour，tiredinbodyandmind，butincrediblyhappyinspirit，marvellingatthechangeswroughtinherduringthedaypreceding，themosteventfuloneinherhistory。Onlyyesterdayherlovehadbeenabud，socloselyfoldedthatshescarcelyrecognizeditsbeautyorcolororfragrance；onlyyesterday，andnowsheheldinherhandaperfectflower。Whenandhowhaditgrown，andbywhatmagicprocess？
TheimageofIvoryhadbeenallthroughthenightintheforegroundofherdreamsandinhermomentsofwakefulness，bothmadeblissfulbytheheavenofanticipationthatdawneduponher。
Wasevermansowise，sotenderandgentle，sostrong，socomprehending？Whatmatteredtheabsenceofworldlygoods，thepresenceofcareandanxiety，whennwomanhadasteadyhandtohold，asteadfasthearttotrust，amanwhowouldloveherandstandbyher，whate’erbefell？
ThenthefaceofIvory’smotherwouldswimintothementalpicture；thepaleface，aswhiteasthepillowitlayupon；thefacewithitsaureoleofashenhair，andthewistfulblueeyesthatbeggedofGodandherchildrensomepeacebeforetheyclosedonlife。
Thevisionofhersisterwasajoyfulone，andherheartwasatpeaceabouther，thepluckylittleprincesswhohadblazedthewayoutoftheogre’scastle。
ShesawPattyclearlyasafuturefinelady，invelvetsandsatinsandfurs，bewitchingevery—bodybyhergayspirits，herpiquantvivacity，andthelovingheartthatlayunderneathallthenonsenseandgaveitwarmthandcolor。
TheremembranceofherfatheraloneonthehilltopdidindeedtroubleWaitstill。Self—reproach，inthetruesenseoftheword，shedidnot，couldnot，feel。Neversincethedayshewasbornhadshebeenfathered，anddaughterlylovewasabsent；butshesufferedwhenshethoughtofthefierce，self—willedoldman，cuttinghimselfofffromallpossiblefriendships，whilehisvigorwasbeingsappeddailyandhourlybyhisterriblegreedofmoney。
TruehousewifethatWaitstillwas，hermindrevertedtoeveryseparatecrockandcanisterinhercupboards，everyarticleofherbakingorcookingthatreposedontheswing—shehinthecellar，thinkinghowlongherfathercouldbecomfortablewithoutherministrations，andso，howlonghewoulddelaybeforeengagingtheuinevitablehousekeeper。Sherevolvedthenumberofpossiblepersonstowhomthepositionwouldbeoffered，andwishedthatMrs。Mason，whosoneededhelp，mightbethechosenone：butthefactofherhavingbeenfriendlytotheBoyntonswouldstrikeheratoncefromthelist。
WhenshewasthankfullyeatingherbreakfastwithMrs。Masonalittlelater，andwaitingforIvorytocallforthembothandtakethemtotheBoyntonfarm，shelittleknewwhatwasgoingonatheroldhomeintheseveryhours，whentotellthetruthshewouldhavelikedtoslipin，haditbeenpossible，washthemorningdishes，skimthecream，dotheweek’schurning，makeherfather’sbed，andslipoutagainintothedearshelteroflovethatawaitedher。
TheDeaconhadpassedagoodpartofthenightinschemingandcontriving，andwhenhedrankhisself—madecupofmuddycoffeeatseveno’clocknextmorninghehadformedseveralplansthatweretobeimmediatelyfrustrated，hadheknownit，bytheexasperatingandsuspiciousnatureoftheladiesinvolvedinthem。
Ateighthehadleftthehouse，startedBillMorrillatthestore，andwasontheroadinsearchofvengeanceandahousekeeper。OldMrs。AtkinsofDeerwandersniffedatthewagesoffered。MissPeters，ofUnionFalls，anagedspinsterwithweaklungs，hadtheimpertinencetotellhimthatshefearedshecouldn’tstandthecoldinhishouse；shehadheardhewasveryparticularabouttheamountofwoodthatwasburned。Afour—miledrivebroughthimtothevillagepoeticallynamedtheBrickKiln，whereheofferedtoMrs。PeterUphamanadvanceoftwenty—fivecentsaweekoverandabovethesalarywithwhichhehadsoughttotemptMrs。Atkins。Farfrombeingimpressed，Mrs。Uphill，beingofahightemperandcandidturnofmind，toldhimshe’dprefertostarveathome。Therewasnotanotherfreewomanwithineightmiles，andtheDeaconwaschafingundertemortificationofbeingcontinuallyobligedtostatethereasonforhisneedingahousekeeper。Theonlyhope，itseemed，layingoingtoSacoandhiringastranger，aplannotatalltohisliking，asitwassuretoinvolvehiminextraexpense。
Mutteringthreatsagainsttheuniverseingeneral，hedrovehomebywayofMilliken’sMills，thinkingoftheunfedhens，theunmilkedcow，theunwasheddishes，theunchurnedcreamandaboveallofhisunchasteneddaughters；hisrageincreasingwitheverystepuntilitwasnearlyatthewhiteheatofthenightbefore。
Alongstretchofhillbroughtthetiredoldmaretoaslowwalk，andenabledtheDeacontoseetheWidowTillmanclippingthegeraniumsthatstoodintincansontheshelfofherkitchenwindow。
Now，FoxwellBaxterhadneverbeenavillageLotharioatanyage，norfrequentedthesocietyofsuch。Oflateyears，indeed，hehadfrequentednosocietyofanykind，sothathehadmissed，forinstance，AbelDay’sdescriptionoftheWidowTillmanasa\"reg’larsyreen，\"thoughhevaguelyrememberedthatsomeoftheBaptistsistershadquestionedtheauthenticityofherconversionbytheiryoungandattractiveminister。Shemadeapleasantpictureatthewindow；shewasafreewoman（alittletoofree，theneighborswouldhavesaid；buttheDeacondidn’tknowthat）；
shewasacomparativenewcomertothevillage，andhermindhadnotbeenpoisonedwithfemininegossip——inaword，shewasadistinctlyhopefulsubject，and，actingonablindandsuddenimpulse，heturnedintotheyard，’dungthereinsoverthemare’sneck，andknockedatthebackdoor。
\"Hercharacter’snoworsethanminebynowifAuntAbbyCole’sontheroad，\"hethoughtgrimly，\"an’iftheWilsonsseemysleighinsideofwidder’sfence，somuchthebetter；it’llgive’emajog。——GoodmorningMis’Tillman，\"hesaidtothesmilinglady。\"I’llcometothep’intatonce。MyyoungestdaughterhasmarriedMarkWilsonagainstmywill，an’goneawayfromtown，an’
theolderone’schosenahusbandstilllesstomylikin’。Doyouwanttocomeandhousekeepforme？\"
\"Isurmisedsomethingwasgoingon，\"re—turnedMrs。Tillman。\"I
sawPattyandMarkdriveawayearlythismorning，withMr。andMrs。Wilsonwrappingthegirlupandputtingahotsoapstoneinthesleigh，andconsid’ablekissingandhuggingthrownin。\"
ThisknowledgeaddedfueltotheflamethatwasburningfiercelyintheDeacon’sbreast。
\"Well，howaboutthehousekeepingheasked，tryingnottoshowhiseagerness，andnotrecognizinghimselfatallintheenterpriseinwhichhefoundhimselfindulging。
\"I’mverycomfortablehere，\"theladyrespondedartfully，\"andI
don’tknow’sIcaretomakeanychange，thankyou。Ididn’tlikethevillagemuchatfirst，afterlivinginlargerplaces，butnowI’macquainted，itkindofgainsonme。
Herreplywascarefullyframed，forhermindworkedwithgreatrapidity，andshewasmistressofthesituationalmostassoonasshesawtheDeaconalightingfromhissleigh。Hewasnotthesortofmantobeacasualcaller，andhismannerbespokeanurgenterrand。Shehadapensionofsixdollarsamonth，butoverandabovethatsumherlivingwasprecarious。Shemadecoats，andshehadneverknownwant，forshewasamasterhandatdealingwiththeoppositesex。DeaconBaxter，accordingtocommonreport，hadtenorfifteenthousanddollarsstowedawayinthebanks，sothesituationwouldbeassimpleaspossibleunderordinarycircumstances；itwasaseasytoturnoutoneman’spocketsasall—other’swhenhewasanormalhumanbeing；butDeaconBaxterwasadifferentproposition。
\"Iwonderhowlonghe’slikelytolive，\"shethought，glancingathimcovertly，outofthetailofhereye。\"Hiseviltempermusthavedrivenmorethanonenailinhiscoffin。Iwonder，iflrefusetohousekeep，whetherI’11get——abetteroffer。IwonderifIcouldmanagehimifIgothim！I’dratherliketositintheBaxterpewattheOrthodoxmeeting—houseafterthewaysomeoftheBaptistsistershavesnubbedmesinceIcomehere。\"
Notavestigeoftheseincendiarythoughtsshowedinhercomelycountenance，andhersoulmighthavebeenaswhiteasthehigh—bibbedapronthatcoveredit，tojudgebyhergenialsmile。
\"I’dmakethewagesfair，\"urgedtheDeacon，lookingroundthecleankitchen，withthebreak—fast—tablesittingnearthesunnywindowandtheodorofcornedbeefandcabbageissuingtemptinglyfromaboilingpotonthefire。\"Ihopesheain’tagreatmeat—eater，\"hethought，\"butit’stoosoontocrossthatbridgeyetawhile。\"
\"I’venodoubtofit，\"saidthewidow，wonderingifhervoicerangtrue；\"butI’vegotapension，andwhyshouldIleavethiscosylittlehome？WouldIbettermyselfany，that’sthequestion？
I’mkindoflonesomehere，that’stheonlyreasonI’dconsideramove。\"
\"Noneedo’bein’lonesomedowntotheFalls，\"saidtheDeacon。
\"AndI’minan’outallday，betweenthebarnan’thestore。\"
This，indeed，wasnotapleasantprospect，butJaneTillmanhadfacedworseonesinhertime。