d her in.

"Be sure you make the pies," he said with an emphasis which showed he
meant to have it remembered.

"All right, dear."

"You'd better cook the fruit to-night," he added.

"All right. I'll tell Hepsie."

"Better do it yourself," he cautioned.

"She can do it. I'll tell her," Elizabeth said without looking up, but she
knew that that would not end the discussion the moment it was out of her
mouth. She recognized John's most unpleasant insisting mood.

"Mother always tends to her own pie-baking. Girls never get things right,"
he said emphatically, waiting for her to raise her eyes to his.

"Yes, yes, dear," the girl answered, looking up as he required. "She can
do it just as well as I can; it don't hurt her to stand on her feet."

She had given the sign of submission and he was ready to be pleasant about
it, but he reiterated the demand.

"I know, dear," he said, kissing her, "but I can't bear to have things
coming on the table not right when we have men about. It don't take long
to make a few pies."

Elizabeth rose wearily, put the letters down and went to the kitchen. Her
face was drawn and there was a fagged, weary droop to the shoulders. John
demanded that the house and cooking be kept up to the city standard,
forgetting that there was a garden to keep in order also, besides little
chickens to feed and butter to be made. If Elizabeth had said she were
sick and had gone to bed, John would have had the doctor come to see her
twice as often as necessary, and would have exhausted the little town of
Colebyville to supply such things as she could eat, but it never occurred
to John Hunter that as long as his wife was able to go about the house
that she might know what she should do much better than he.

Elizabeth was unable to defend herself. She coveted peace, and she could
not have peace unless she responded to John's suggestions. Also, at this
time Elizabeth was determined that she would not be cross. The coming
child absorbed her mind as much as it absorbed her body. She would not let
one hour of discord or inharmony affect its life. Elizabeth had no idea
how to manage her husband so as to get him even to listen to her side of
an argument. The girl was worn out by useless things which she could not
avoid doing.

Elizabeth was extremely nervous at this period of her life. John went to
bed full of healthy fatigue and slept soundly till morning, and knew
nothing of mental and physical strains which l