nd among all the people
she had ever known except the Hornbys and the Chamberlains.

"Defence!" she said in a scornful whisper. "What does it matter _who_ is
wrong in anything? The only thing that matters is _what_ is wrong and to
find a way to make it come out better next time," and at last went to
sleep quite unaware that she had evolved a philosophy which rightly
applied would reorganize the world.

CHAPTER XI

"WIVES, SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO YOUR
HUSBANDS, AS UNTO THE LORD"

The day after the wedding was Friday, or "sweep day," as Mrs. Hunter
called it. Anxious to begin as she expected to hold out, and to form
regular habits in John's wife, Mrs. Hunter superintended the housecleaning
processes.

Elizabeth had had no idea that any one could put in so many hours with
broom and dust rag, but when it was done, looked about her with
housekeeperly delight in the orderly, well-kept rooms. As they had worked
that day the girl had been keenly observant of John's mother. She could
not tell whether John had told her of the trouble in her home or not. Mrs.
Hunter did not refer to it directly or indirectly, and this fact was the
subject of much thought. This faultless manner of dismissing unpleasant
things stood out in strong contrast to the endless and tiresome
discussions to which the girl was accustomed. Elizabeth wished she could
find time to run over to Uncle Nate's for a chat with Aunt Susan, but the
busy day absorbed her and there was no time to go anywhere; in fact, it
was time for John to come home from Colebyville, where he had gone to hunt
for a hired man before the cleaning was really finished. Glancing up at
the clock on the lambrequined shelf in the sitting room, the girl was
surprised to see that it was already four o'clock. The cleaning was
finished and she ran to the kitchen to put up the rag in her hand, and
then went hurriedly into her bedroom to comb her hair and get her dress
changed before John should come.

Absorbed in her dressing, Elizabeth did not hear her husband enter the
house until she heard him talking to his mother in the dining room. With
freshly combed hair and clean calico dress she ran with a glad little
bound to meet him.

John Hunter and his mother stopped short with their conversation when they
saw her and were plainly embarrassed.

The young wife became conscious that something was wrong and stopped in
the middle of the room, looking from one to the other in mute inquiry.