he boy alone in regarding as a direct manifestation of Providence
the sudden removal of Cousin Bill J. from this life by means of pneumonia.
For Miss Alvira had ever been esteemed and respected even by those who
considered that she sang alto half a note off, while her husband had
gradually acquired the disesteem of almost the entire village of Edom.
Many, indeed, went so far as to consider him a reproach to his sex.

Yet there were a few who said that even a pretended observance of the
decencies would have been better. Miss Alvira disagreed with them,
however, and after all, as the village wag, Elias Cuthbert, said in the
post-office next day, "It was _her_ funeral." For Miss Alvira had made no
pretense to God; and, what is infinitely harder, she would make none to
the world. She rode to the last resting-place of her husband--Elias also
made a funny joke about his having merely changed _resting-places_--decked
in a bonnet on which were many blossoms. She had worn it through years
when her heart mourned and life was bitter, when it seemed that God from
His infinity had chosen her to suffer the cruellest hurts a woman may
know--and now that He had set her free she was not the one to pretend
grief with some lying pall of crepe. And on the new bonnet she wore to
church, the first Sabbath after, there still flowered above her somewhat
drawn face the blossoms of an endless girlhood, as if they were rooted in
her very heart. Beneath these blossoms she sang her alto--such as it
was--with just a hint of tossing defiance. Yet there was no need for that.
Edom thought well of her.

No one was known to have mourned the departed save an inferior dog he had
made his own and been kind to; but this creature had little sympathy or
notice, though he was said to have waited three days and three nights on
the new earth that topped the grave of Cousin Bill J. For, quite aside
from his unfortunate connection, he had not been thought well of as a dog.

CHAPTER X

THE PASSING OF THE GRATCHER; AND ANOTHER

From year to year the perfect father came to Edom to be a week with his
children. And though from visit to visit there were external variations in
him, his genial and refreshing spirit was changeless. When his garments
were appreciably less regal, even to the kind eye of his younger son; when
his hat was not all one might wish; the boots less than excellent; the
priceless watch-chain absent, or moored to a mere bunch of aimless keys