re, too!" Janet sighed. The
atmosphere of the Light, below stairs, was depressing.

"What's Mark Tapkins hangin' round fur?"

"It was his turn at the Light last night, Susan Jane."

"Land sake! I know that. Didn't I hear David snorin' fit t' bust, till
mornin'? But Mark didn't use t' lap his turn clear on t' the next
forenoon. Janet, do you know what I think?"

"No, Susan Jane."

"I think Mark Tapkins is shinin' up t' you!"

"Do you, Susan Jane?" Janet was struggling with her hair.

"Yes, I do. An' I feel it's my place t' tell you that it ain't a bad
chance fur you. Mark's a steady, slow fellow, but he ain't lackin'.
You're dreadful giddy an' don't take t' house ways. Mark's father is the
best housekeeper I know on. He's sort of daft; but all the sense he has
left is gone t' cookin' an' managin' a house. He ain't old an' the
soft-headed kind last longer than keener folks: it would fit int' your
ways right proper. Mrs. Jo G.'s girl couldn't stand it. She is so brisk
an' contrivin', an' Mrs. Jo G., being right here on hand, has hopes of
workin' Maud Grace off on some boarder; but you ain't got nobody t'
pilot you, Janet, an' you're queer an' unlikely, 'cept in looks, an'
some doubts the worth of them! As long as Mark is leanin' toward you, I
think it my duty to head you toward him."

"Thank you, Susan Jane, but I'll pilot myself, please." The girl's face
showed an angry flush. "Shall I open the Bible for you before I go?"

"Yes; you know the place?"

"It falls open to the page, Susan Jane."

"Thank you. An' please put the money box where I can see it. Was it one
or two weeks you paid fur?"

"Two, Susan Jane. Now I must be off. Tell David not to wait dinner."

"Wait dinner!" sniffed Susan Jane; "well, listen t' them airs! Wait
dinner! I'd like t' see any one, boarder or saucy jade, as would make me
wait dinner!" Janet had fled before the rising storm.

"There she goes, sails set an' full rigged, an' Mark Tapkins followin'
on ahind like a little, lopsided tug after an ocean steamer!"

Poor helpless Susan Jane looked after the two, all her irritable,
action-checked misery breaking through her eyes.

"Lord!" she moaned, "I don't want t' live; an' yet fur all I know, this
may be better'n nothin'! I don't want t' be nothin'! Jest lookin' on is
better than that!"

Janet, striding along the wood-path beyond the Light, heard the
shambling steps behind her. She turned and saw Mark. He was tall and
lank. He lean