ep it or
we'll have to cut down the farm work." She brightened with the thought.
"Let's cut the work down anyhow, dear. I'd have so much an easier time
and--and you wouldn't have all those wages to raise every month, and we
could live so much more comfortably."

She leaned forward eagerly.

"I don't see but we're living as comfortably as folks usually do," John
replied evasively.

"I know, dear, but we have to have the men at meals all the time
and--and----"

"Now see here, Elizabeth, don't go and get foolish. A man has to make a
living," John said fretfully.

The girl had worked uncomplainingly until her last remnant of strength was
gone, and they were neither willing to do the thing which made it possible
to keep help, nor to let her do the work as she was able to do it. With it
all, however, she tried patiently to explain and arrange. Something had to
be done.

"I know you have to make a living, John, and I often think that I must let
you do it in your own way, but there are so many things that are getting
into a snarl while we try it this way. We don't have much home with
strangers at our table every day in the year. We never have a meal alone.
I wouldn't mind that, but it makes more work than I am able to do, it is
getting you into debt deeper every month to pay their wages, and you don't
know how hard it is going to be to pay those debts a few years from now.
But that isn't the worst of it as far as I am concerned. I work all the
time and you--you aren't satisfied with what I do when I do everything my
strength will let me do. I can't do any more than I'm doing either."

"I _am_ satisfied with what you do," he said with evident annoyance at
having his actions and words remarked upon. "Besides, you have mother to
help you." He had ignored her remarks upon the question of debts,
determined to fasten the attention elsewhere.

The little ruse succeeded, for Elizabeth's attention was instantly riveted
upon her own hopeless situation.

"It isn't much help to run the girl out and then make it so hard to get
another one," she said bitterly.

Instantly she wished she had not said it. It was true, but she wished she
could have held it back. John did not realize as she did how hard it was
going to be to get another girl. She had not told him of Hepsie's remarks
nor of her advice. Elizabeth was not a woman to tattle, and the "old
woman" Hepsie had referred to was his mother.

"Don't think I'm hard on her, John.