Waitstillcouldnotspeak；sheputherarmroundthetremblingfigure，holdingherasshewaswonttoholdPatty，andwiththesameprotectiveinstinct。Theembracewaselectricinitseffectandsetaltogethernewcurrentsofemotionincirculation。
　　SomethinginLoisBoynton’sperturbedmindseemedtobeatitswingsagainstthebarriersthathadheretoforeopposedit，and，freeingitself，mountedintoclearerairandwentsingingtothesky。Sherestedhercheekonthegirl’sbreastwithalittlesob。
　　"Oh！letmegoonrememberingwrong，"shesighed，fromthatsafeshelter。"Letmegoonrememberingwrong！Itmakesmesohappy！"
　　Waitstillgentlyledhertotherocking—chairandsatdownbesideherontheloweststep，strokingherthinhand。Mrs。Boynton’seyeswereclosed，herbreathcameandwentquickly，butpresentlyshebegantospeakhurriedly，asifshewererelievingasurchargedheart。
　　"Thereissomethingtroublingme，"shebegan，"anditwouldeasemymindifIcouldtellittosomeonewhocouldhelp。Yourhandissowarmandsofirm！Oh，holdminecloselyandletmedrawinstrengthaslongasyoucanspareit；itisflowing，flowingfromyourhandintomine，flowinglikewine……Mythoughtsatnightarenotlikemythoughtsbyday，theselastweeks……I
　　wakesuddenlyandfeelthatmyhusbandhasbeenawayalongtimeandwillnevercomeback……Often，atnight，too，Iaminsoretroubleaboutsomethingelse，somethingIhavenevertoldIvory，thefirstthingIhaveeverhiddenfrommydearson，butI
　　thinkIcouldtellyou，ifonlyIcouldbesureaboutit。"
　　"Tellmeifitwillhelpyou；Iwilltrytounderstand，"saidWaitstillbrokenly。
　　"IvorysaysRodmanisthechildofmydeadsister。Someonemusthavetoldhimso；couldithavebeenI？Ithauntsmedayandnight，forunlessIamrememberingwrongagain，Ineverhadasister。Icancalltomindneithersisternorbrother。"
　　"YouwenttoNewHampshireonewinter，"Waitstillremindedhergently，asifsheweretalkingtoachild。"Itwasbittercoldforyoutotakesuchahardjourney。Yoursisterdied，andyoubroughtherlittleboy，Rodman，back，butyouweresoillthatastrangerhadtotakecareofyouonthestage—coachanddriveyoutoEdgewoodnextdayinhisownsleigh。Itisnowonderyouhaveforgottensomethingofwhathappened，forDr。Perryhardlybroughtyouthroughthebrainfeverthatfollowedthatjourney。"
　　"Iseemtothink，now，thatitisnotso！"saidMrs。Boynton，openinghereyesandlookingatWaitstilldespairingly。"ImustgropeandgropeinthedarkuntilIfindoutwhatistrue，andthentellIvory。Godwillpunishfalsespeaking！Hisheartisclosedagainstliesandevil—doing！"
　　"Hewillneverpunishyouifyourtiredmindrememberswrong，"
　　saidWaitstill。"Heknows，nonebetter，howyouhavetriedtofindHimandholdHim，throughmanyatangledpath。IwillcomeasoftenasIcanandwewilltrytofrightenawaytheseworryingthoughts。"
　　"Ifyouwillonlycomenowandthenandholdmyhand，"saidIvory’smother，——"holdmyhandsothatyourstrengthwillflowintomyweakness，perhapsIshallpuzzleitallout，andGodwillhelpmetorememberrightbeforeIdie。"
　　"EverythingthatIhavepowertogiveawayshallbegiventoyou，"promisedWaitstill。"NowthatIknowyou，andyoutrustme，youshallneverbeleftsoaloneagain，——notforlong，atanyrate。WhenIstayawayyouwillrememberthatIcannothelpit，won’tyou？"
　　"Yes，IshallthinkofyoutillIseeyouagainIshallwatchthelonglanemorethanevernow。Ivorysometimestakesthepathacrossthefieldsbutmydearhusbandwillcomebytheoldroad，andnowtherewillbeyoutolookfor！"
　　XVI
　　LOCKEDOUT
　　ATtheBaxtersthelatesupperwasoverandthegirlshadnotsatatthetablewiththeirfather，havingeatenearlier，bythemselves。Thehiredmenhadgonehometosleep。Pattyhadretiredtothesolitudeofherbedroomalmostatdusk，quitewornoutwiththeheat，andWaitstillsatunderthepeachtreeinthecornerofherownlittlegarden，tatting，andthinkingofherinterviewwithIvory’smother。Shesatthereuntilnearlyeighto’clock，tryingvainlytoputtogetherthepuzzlingdetailsofLoisBoynton’sconversation，wonderingwhethertheperplexitiesthatvexedhermindwererealorfancied，butwarmedtotheheartbytheaffectionthattheolderwomanseemedinstinctivelytofeelforher。"Shedidnotknowme，yetshecaredformeatonce，"thoughtWaitstilltenderlyandproudly；"andIforher，too，atthefirstglance。"
　　Sheheardherfatherlockthebarnandshedandknewthathewouldbegoingupstairsimmediately，soshequicklywentthroughthesideyardandliftedthelatchofthekitchendoor。Itwasfastened。Shewenttothefrontdoorandthat，too，wasbolted，althoughithadbeenstandingopenalltheevening，sothatifabreezeshouldspringup，itmightblowthroughthehouse。Herfathersupposed，ofcourse，thatshewasinbed，andshedreadedtobringhimdownstairsforfearofhisanger；stilltherewasnohelpforitandsherappedsmartlyatthesidedoor。Therewasnoanswerandsherappedagain，vexedwithherowncarelessness。
　　Patty’sfaceappearedpromptlybehindherscreenofmosquitonettinginthesecondstory，butbeforeshecouldexchangeawordwithhersister，DeaconBaxteropenedtheblindsofhisbedroomwindowandputhisheadout。
　　"Youcantrysleepin’outdoors，orinthebarnto—night，"hecalled。"Ididn’tsayanythingtoyouatsupper—timebecauseI
　　wantedtoseewhereyouwasintendin’toprowlthisevenin’。"
　　"Ihaven’tbeen’prowling’anywhere，father，"answeredWaitstill；
　　"I’vebeenoutinthegardencoolingoff；it’sonlyeighto’clock。"
　　"Well，youcancooloffsomemore，"heshouted，histempernowfullyaroused；"orgobackwhereyouwasthisafternoonandseeifthey’lltakeyouinthere！Iknowallaboutyourdeceitfultricks！IcomehometogrindthescythesandfoundthehouseandbarnemptyCephassaidyou’ddrivenupSacoHillandItookhishorseandfollowedyouandsawwhereyouwentLong’syoucouldn’thaveafellercallin’onyouheretohome，youthoughtyou’dcallonhim，didyer，youbold—facedhussy？"
　　"Iamnothingofthesort，"thegirlansweredhimquietly；"IvoryBoyntonwasnotathishouse，hewasinthehay—field。Youknowit，andyouknowthatIknewit。Iwenttoseeasick，unhappywomanwhohasnoneighbors。Ioughttohavegonelongbefore。I
　　amnotashamedofit，andIdon’tregretit。Ifyouaskunreasonablethingsofme，youmustexpecttobedisobeyedonceinawhile。
　　"Mustexpecttobedisobeyed，mustI？"theoldmancried，hisfacepositivelyterrifyinginitsugliness。"We’llseeaboutthat！Ifyouwa’n’tcallin’onayoungman，youwerecallin’onacrazywoman，andIwon’thaveit，Itellyou，doyouhear？I
　　won’thaveadaughtero’mineconsortin’withanyo’thatBoyntoncrew。Perhapsanightoutdoorswillteachyouwho’smasterinthishouse，youimperdent，shamelessgirl！We’11tryit，anyway！"
　　Andwiththathebangeddownthewindowanddisappeared，gibberingandjabberingimpotentwordsthatshecouldhearbutnotunderstand。
　　Waitstillwasalmoststunnedbythesuddennessofthiscatastrophe。Shestoodwithherfeetrootedtotheearthforseveralminutesandthenwalkedslowlyawayoutofsightofthehouse。TherewasachairbesidethegrindstoneunderthePorterappletreeandshesankintoit，crossedherarmsontheback，andbowingherheadonthem，burstintoafitofweepingastempestuousandpassionateasitwassilent，foralthoughherbodyfairlyshookwithsobsnosoundescaped。
　　Theminutespassed，perhapsanhour；shedidnottakeaccountoftime。Themoonwentbehindclouds，thenightgrewmistyandthestarsfadedonebyone。Therewouldberainto—morrowandtherewasagreatdealofhaycut，soshethoughtinavagrantsortofway。
　　MeanwhilePattyupstairswasinastateofsuppressedexcitementandterror。Itwasaquarterofanhourbeforeherfathersettledhim—selfinbed；thenanage，itseemedtoher，beforesheheardhisheavybreathing。Whenshethoughtitquitesafe，sheslippedonaprintwrapper，tookhershoesinherhand，andcreptnoiselesslydownstairs，outthroughthekitchenandintotheshed。Liftingtheheavybarthatheldthebigdoorsinplacesheclosedthemsoftlybehindher，steppedout，andlookedaboutherinthedarkness。Herquickeyeespiedinthedistance，nearthebarn，thebowedfigureinthechair，andsheflewthroughthewetgrasswithoutathoughtofherbarefeettillshereachedhersister’ssideandheldherinacloseembrace。
　　"Mydarling，myown，own，poordarling！"shecriedsoftly，thetearsrunningdownhercheeks。"Howwicked，howunjusttoservemydearestsisterso！Don’tcry，myblessing，don’tcry；youfrightenme！I’11takecareofyou，dear！NexttimeI’llinterfere；I’llscratchandbite；yes，I’llstrangleanybodythatdarestoshameyouandlockyououtofthehouse！You，thedearest，thepatientest，thebest！"
　　Waitstillwipedhereyes。"Letusgofartherawaywherewecantalk，"shewhispered。
　　"Wherehadwebettersleep？"Pattyasked。"Onthehay，Ithink，thoughweshallstiflewiththeheat"；andPattymovedtowardsthebarn。
　　"No，youmustgobacktothehouseatonce，Pattydear；fathermightwakeandcallyou，andthatwouldmakemattersworse。It’sbeginningtodrizzle，orIshouldstayoutintheair。Oh！I
　　wonderiffather’smindisgoing，andifthisisthebeginningoftheend！Ifheisinhissobersenses，hecouldnotbesostrange，sosuspicious，sounjust。"
　　"Hecouldbeanything，sayanything，doanything，"exclaimedPatty。"Perhapsheisnotresponsibleandperhapsheis；itdoesn’tmakemuchdifferencetous。Comealong，blesseddarling！
　　I’lltuckyouin，andthenI’llcreepbacktothehouse，ifyousayImust。I’llgodownandmakethekitchenfireinthemorning；youstayouthereandseewhathappens。Agooddealwillhappen，I’mthinking，iffatherspeakstomeofyou！Ishouldn’tbesurprisedtoseethefurflyinginalldirections；I’llseizethefirstmomenttobringyououtacupofcoffeeandwe’llconsultaboutwhattodo。Imaytellyounow，I’mallforrunningaway！"
　　Waitstill’sfirstburstofwretchednesshadsubsidedandshehadrecoveredherbalance。"I’mafraidwemustwaitalittlelonger，Patty，"sheadvised。"Don’tmentionmynametofather，butseehowheactsinthemorning。Hewassowild，sounlikehimself，thatIalmosthopehemayforgetwhathesaidandsleepitoff。
　　Yes，wemustjustwait。"
　　"Nodoubthe’llbefarcalmerinthemorningifheremembersthat，ifheturnsyouout，hefacestheprospectofthreemealsadaycookedbyme，"saidPatty。"That’swhathethinkshewouldface，butasamatteroffactIshalltellhimthatwhereyousleepIsleep，andwhereyoueatIeat，andwhenyoustopcookingIstop！Hewon’tpartwithtwounpaidservantsinahurry，notatthebeginningofhaying。"AndPatty，givingWaitstillalasthugandadozentearfulkisses，stolereluctantlybacktothehousebythesameroutethroughwhichhehadleftit。
　　Pattywasright。Shefoundthefirelightedwhenshewentdownintothekitchennextmorning，andwithoutawordshehurriedbreakfastontothetableasfastasshecouldcookandserveit。
　　Waitstillwassafeinthebarnchamber，sheknew，andwouldbetherequietlywhileherfatherwasfeedingthehorseandmilkingthecows；orperhapsshemightgoupinthewoodsandwaituntilshesawhimdrivingaway。
　　TheDeaconatehisbreakfastinsilence，lookingandactingverymuchasusual，forhewasgenerallydumbatmeals。Whenheleftthehouse，however，andclimbedintothewagon，heturnedaroundandsaidinhisordinarygruffmanner："Bringthelunchuptothefieldyourselfto—day，Patience。TellyoursisterIhopeshe’scometohersensesinthecourseofthenight。You’vegottolearn，bothofyou，thatmy’say—so’mustbelawinthishouse。
　　Youcanfussandyoucanfume，ifitamusesyouany，but’twon’tdonogood。Don’tencourageWaitstillinanywhinin’norblubberin’。JesttellhertocomeinandgotoworkandI’11
　　overlookwhatshedonethistime。Anddon’tyougivemeanymoreofyoureye—snappin’andlip—poutin’andhead—in—the—airimperdence！
　　You’reunderage，andifyoudon’tlookout，you’llgetsomethingthat’sgoodforwhatailsyou！Youtwogirlsjestaidan’abetoneanotherthat’swhatyoudo，aidan’abetoneanother，anifyoucarryitanyfurtherI’llfindsomewayo’separatin’you，doyouhear？"
　　Pattyspokeneveraword，norflutteredaneyelash。Shehadaproperspirit，butnowherheartwascoldwithanewfear，andshefelt，withWaitstill，thatherfathermustbeobeyedandhistemperkeptwithinbounds，untilGodprovidedthemawayofescape。
　　Sheranouttothebarnchamberand，notfindingWaitstill，lookedacrossthefieldandsawhercomingthroughthepathfromthewoods。Pattywavedherhand，andrantomeethersister，joyatthemerefactofherexistence，ofbeingabletoseeheragain，andofhearingherdearvoice，almostchokingherinitsintensity。Whentheyreachedthehouseshehelpedherupstairsasifshewereachild，broughthercoolwatertowashawaythedustofthehaymow，laidoutsomecleanclothesforher，andfinallyputherontheloungeinthedarkenedsitting—room。
　　"Iwon’tletanybodycomenearthehouse，"shesaid，"andyoumusthaveacupofteaandagoodsleepbeforeItellyouallthatfathersaid。Justcomfortyourselfwiththethoughtthatheisgoingto’overlookit’thistime！AfterIcarryuphisluncheon，IshallstopatthestoreandaskCephastocomeoutontheriverbankforafewminutes。ThenIshallproceedtosaywhatIthinkofhimfortellingfatherwhereyouwentyesterdayafternoon。"
　　"Don’tblameCephas！"Waitstillremonstrated。"Can’tyouseejusthowithappened？HeandUncleBartweresittinginfrontoftheshopwhenIdroveby。Whenfathercamehomeandfoundthehouseemptyandthehorsenotinthestall，ofcourseheaskedwhereI
　　was，andCephasprobablysaidhehadseenmedriveupSacoHill。
　　Hehadnoreasontothinkthattherewasanyharminthat。"
　　"Ifhehadanysensehemightknowthatheshouldn’ttellanythingtofatherexceptwhathappensinthestore，"Pattyinsisted。"Wereyoufrightenedoutinthebarnalonelastnight，poordear？"
　　"IwastoounhappytothinkoffearandIwaschieflynervousaboutyou，allaloneinthehousewithfather。"
　　"Ididn’tlikeitverymuch，myself！Ibuttonedmybedroomdoorandsatbythewindowallnight，shiveringandbristlingattheleastsound。Everybodycallsmeacoward，butI’mnot！Courageisn’tnotbeingfrightened；it’snotscreechingwhenyouarefrightened。Now，whathappenedattheBoyntons’？"
　　"Patty，Ivory’smotheristhemostpatheticcreatureIeversaw！"
　　AndWaitstillsatuponthesofa，herlongbraidsofhairhangingoverhershoulders，herpalefaceshowingthetracesofherheavyweeping。"Ineverpitiedanyonesomuchinmywholelife！Togoupthatlong，longlane；tocomeuponthatdrearyhousehiddenawayinthetrees；tofeelthelonelinessandthesilence；andthentoknowthatsheislivingtherelikeahermit—thrushinaforest，withoutawomantocareforher，itisheart—breaking！"
　　"Howdoesthehouselook，——dreadful？"
　　"No：everythingisasneataswax。Sheisn’t’crazy，’Patty，asweunderstandtheword。Hermindisbecloudedsomehowanditalmostseemsasifthecloudmightliftatanymoment。Shegoesaboutlikesomebodyinadream，sewingorknittingorcooking。Itisonlywhenshetalks，andyounoticethathereyesreallyseenothing，butarelookingbeyondyou，thatyouknowthereisanythingwrong。"
　　"Ifsheappearssolikeotherpeople，whydon’ttheneighborsgotoseeheronceinawhile？"
　　"Callersmakeherunhappy，shesays，andIvorytoldmethathedarednotencourageanycompanyinthehouseforfearofexcitingher，andmakingheranobjectofgossip，besides。Heknowsherwaysperfectlyandthatsheissafeandcontentwithherfancieswhensheisalone，whichisseldom，afterall。"
　　"Whatdoesshetalkabout？"askedPatty。
　　"Herhusbandmostly。Sheisexpectinghimtocomebackdaily。Weknewthatbefore，ofcourse，butnoonecanrealizeittilltheyseehersettingthetableforhimandputtingasaucerofwildstrawberriesbyhisplate；goingaboutthekitchensoftly，likeagentleghost。"
　　"Itgivesmetheshudders！"saidPatty。"Icouldn’tbearit！Ifsheneverseesstrangers，whatintheworlddidshemakeofyou？
　　Howdidyoubegin？"
　　"ItoldherIhadknownIvoryeversincewewereschoolchildren。
　　Shewasratherstrangeandindifferentatfirst，andthensheseemedtotakeafancytome。"
　　"That’squeer！"saidPatty，smilingfondlyandgivingWaitstill’shairthehastybrushofakiss。
　　"Shetoldmeshehadhadagirlbaby，borntwoorthreeyearsafterIvory，andthatshehadalwaysthoughtitdiedwhenitwasafewweeksold。Thensuddenlyshecameclosertome——
　　"Oh！Waity，weren’tyouterrified？"
　　"No，notintheleast。Neitherwouldyouhavebeenifyouhadbeenthere。SheputherarmsroundmeandallatonceI
　　understoodthatthepoorthingmistookmejustforamomentforherowndaughtercomebacktolife。ItwasasuddenfancyandI
　　don’tthinkitlasted，butIdidn’tknowhowtodealwithit，orcontradictit，soIsimplytriedtosootheherandlethereaseherheartbytalkingtome。ShesaidwhenIlefther：’Whereisyourhouse？Ihopeitisnear！Docomeagainandsitwithme。
　　Strengthflowsintomyweaknesswhenyouholdmyhand！’Isomehowfeel，Patty，thatsheneedsawomanfriendevenmorethanadoctor。Andnow，whatamItodo？HowcanIforsakeher；andyethereisthisnewdifficultywithfather？"
　　"Ishouldn’tforsakeher；gotherewhenyoucan，butbemorecarefulaboutit。Youtoldfatherthatyoudidn’tregretwhatyouhaddone，andthatwhenheorderedyoutodounreasonablethings，youshoulddisobeyhim。Afterall，youarenotablackslave。
　　Fatherwillneverthinkofthatparticularthingagain，perhaps，anymorethanheeveralludedtomydrivingtoSacowithMrs。Dayafteryouhadtoldhimitwasnecessaryforoneofustogothereoccasionally。Heknowsthatifheistoohardonus，Dr。PerryorUncleBartwouldtakehiminhand。Theywouldhavedoneitlongagoifwehadevergivenanyoneevenahintofwhatwehavetoendure。Youwillbeallright，becauseyouonlywanttodokind，neighborlythings。Iamtheonethatwillalwayshavetosuffer，becauseIcan’tprovethatit’saChristiandutytodeceivefatherandstealofftoadanceorafrolic。YetImightaswellbeanuninaconventforallthefunIget！Iwantawhitebook—muslindress；Iwantapairofthinshoeswithbuckles；I
　　wantawhitehatwithawreathofyellowroses；IwantavolumeofByron’spoems；andoh！nobodyknows——nobodybuttheLordcouldunderstand——howIwantastringofgoldbeads。"
　　"Patty，Patty！Tohearyouchatteranybodywouldimagineyouthoughtofnothingbutfrivolities。Iwishyouwouldn’tdoyourselfsuchinjustice；evenwhennobodyhearsyoubutme，itiswrong。"
　　"SometimeswhenyouthinkI’mtalkingnonsenseit’sreallythegospeltruth，"saidPatty。"I’mnotagrand，splendidcharacter，Waitstill，andit’snouseyourdeceivingyourselfaboutme；ifyoudo，you’llbedisappointed。"
　　"Goandparboilthebeansandgetthemintothepot，Patty。Pickupsomeofthewindfallsandmakeagreen—applepie，andI’llbewithyouinthekitchenmyselfbeforelong。Ineverexpecttobedisappointedinyou，Patty，onlycontinuallysurprisedandpleased。"
　　"IthoughtI’dbeginmakingsomesoftsoapto—day，"saidPattymischievously，asshelefttheroom。"Wehaveenoughgreasesavedup。Wedon’treallyneedityet，butitmakessuchadisgustingsmellthatI’dratherlikefathertohaveitwithhisdinner。
　　It’snotmuchofapunishmentforoursleeplessnight。"
　　AUTUMN
　　XVII
　　ABRACEOFLOVERS
　　HAYINGwasover，andtheclose，stickydog—days，too，andAugustwasslippingintoSeptember。Therehadbeenplentyofrainalltheseasonandthecountrysidewaslookingasfreshandgreenasanemerald。Thehillsideswerealreadyclothedwithaverdantgrowthofnewgrassand"TheredpennonsofthecardinalflowersHungmotionlessupontheiruprightstaves。"
　　Howtheygleamedinthemeadowgrassesandalongthebrooksideslikebrilliantflecksofflame，givinganewbeautytothenosegaysthatWaitstillcarriedorsenttoMrs。Boyntoneveryweek。
　　Totheeyeofthecasualobserver，lifeinthetwolittlevillagesbytheriver’sbrinkwentonaspeacefullyasever，butthereweresubtlechangestakingplacenevertheless。CephasColehad"asked"thesecondtimeandagainhadbeenrefusedbyPatty，sothatevenaveryidiotforhopefulnesscouldnoturgehisfathertoputanotherstoryontheell。
　　"IfitturnsouttobePhoebeDay，"thoughtCephasdolefully，"tworoomsisplentygoodenough，an’Ishan’tblockupthedoorthatleadsfromthemainpart，neither，asIthoughtlikelyI
　　should。Ifsobeit’sgottobePhoebe，notPatty，Ishan’tcarewhethermothertroopsout’n’inornot。"AndCephasdealtoutriceandteaandcoffeewithsolanguidanair，andmadesuchfrequentmistakesinweighingthesugar，thathedrewuponhimselfmanyasharprebukefromtheDeacon。
　　"OfcourseI’dclubhimovertheheadwithasaltfishtwiceadayunderord’narycircumstances，"CephasconfidedtohisfatherwithavaliantairthatheneverworeinDeaconBaxter’spresence；"butI’vegotareason，knowntonobodybutmyself，forwantin’tostan’wellwiththeoldmanforaspelllonger。IfeverIquitwantin’tostan’wellwithhim，he’llgethiscomeuppance，shortansudden！"
　　"Speakin’o’standin’wellwithfolks，PhilPerry’skindo’
　　makin’uptoPatienceBaxter，ain’the，Cephas？"askedUncleBartguardedly。"Mebbeyouwouldn’tnoticeit，hevin’nopartic’larint’rest，butyourmother’skindogottheideeintoherheadlately，an’she’sturriblefar—sighted。"
　　"Iguessit’sso！"Cephasrespondedgloomily。"It’snipan’tuck’tweenhiman’MarkWilson。
　　Thatgirldraws’emasmolassesdoesflies！Shedoesit’thoutliftin’afinger，too，nomore’nthemolassesdoes。Shejustsetsstillan’IS！An’allthetimeshe’snothin’butaflightylittlered—headedspitfirethatdon’tknowagoodhusbandwhensheseesone。Thefellerthatgitsherwilllivetoregretit，that’smyopinion！"AndCephasthoughttohimself："GoodLord，don’tIwishIwasregrettin’itthisveryminute！"
　　"Is’poseagirllikePhoebeDay’dbeconsid’ablelesstroubletolivewith？"venturedUncleBart。
　　"Inevercouldtakeanyfancytothattowhairo’hern！IlikethecolorwellenoughwhenI’mpeelingitoffacorncob，butI
　　don’tlikeitonagirl’shead，"objectedCephashypercritically。
　　"An’hereyeshain’tgotenoughbluein’emtobeblue：they’rejestlikeskim—milk。An’shekeepshermouthopenalittlemiteallthetime，jestasiftherewa’n’tnogooddraughtthrough，an’shewasa—tryin’togitair。An’’twasmethatbeguncallin’
　　her’FeeblePhoebeinschool，an’thescholars’llneverforgitit；they’dthrowituptomethewhole’durin’timeifIshouldgotoworkan’keepcompanywithher！"
　　"Mebbethey’veforgotbythistime，"UncleBartrespondedhopefully；"though’tisanawfulreskwhenyouthinko’
　　CompanionPike！SamuelhewasbaptizedandSamuelhecontinuedtobe，"tillhemarriedtheWidderBixbyfromWaterboro。Bein’ashowtherewa’n’tnothin’partic’lyattractive’bouthim，——thoughhewasasniceafelleraseverlived，——somebodyaskedherwhyshemarriedhim，an’shesaidhercathedjestdiedan’shewantedacompanion。Theboysneverletgoo’thatstory！SamuelPikeheceasedtobethirtyyearago，an’CompanionPikehe’sremaineduptothisinstantminute！"
　　"Heain’tliveduptohisnamemuch，"remarkedCephas。"He’stohomeforhismeals，butIguesshiswifeneverseeshimbetweentimes。"
　　"Ifthecathedlivedmebbeshe’d’a’beenbettercomp’nyonthewhole，"chuckledUncleBart。"Companionwasallerskindo’dreamyan’absent—mindedfromaboy。Irememberaskin’himwhathiswife’sChristiannamewas（shebein’astrangertoRiverboro）an’
　　hesaidhedidn’tknow！SaidhecalledherMis’Bixbyaforehemarriedheran’Mis’Pikeafterwards！"