so, when Elizabeth went to the little schoolhouse to meeting the first
Sunday of her widowhood, being determined to be a part of the community in
which she lived, Hepsie was on the outskirts of the little crowd after
services were over, to explain in a whisper that Lizzie was "goin' t' go
t' meetin' now like she'd always wanted to do, only Mr. Hunter never 'd
take 'er anywhere 'cause 'e felt hisself too good."

Hepsie was to fight Elizabeth's battles on many occasions and stayed on,
watchful as a hawk of Elizabeth's reputation. A sly joke among the hired
men while discussing their position in the house of "the grass-widder"
drove Hepsie beside herself and made her even more ready than she had been
at first to serve the interests of one who was to have no easy time among
her jealous neighbours. Elizabeth knew that in that hour she could have
had most of these people for her friends had it not been that she was
supposed to be "stuck-up." This also was a price she was to pay for having
let her husband dominate her.

When Doctor Morgan was told of Elizabeth's plan to farm the place herself
he was delighted and approved of it heartily.

"You're a little brick, Mrs. Hunter," he said. "I'll back you in anything
you decide to do. It was devilish mean to run off without settling affairs
up. If any of these yahoos around here say anything about it they'll get a
setting up from me that they won't want again. But I'm mighty glad you've
got Hornby. That'll keep actual slander off of you. How much did you say
you owed now?"

"Five hundred--and some expenses for Mr. Noland--besides the note you hold
for the team. I've got about a hundred in the bank, but I shall need a
pony to ride about the farm, and that will take about half of what I have
ready.

"The pony's a good idea. There's no telling what would be made out of you
wandering around the fields on foot to look after the hired men, but on
horseback you'd be all right. Now don't you worry about that note of
mine--I'm in no hurry," the doctor said encouragingly. Elizabeth saw the
advantage of having Doctor Morgan as an enthusiastic advocate of her
plans.

"What about the land, Doctor?" the girl asked next. "I want a legal
division as soon as possible. Will it have to be appraised and sold?"

Doctor Morgan noted joyfully that Elizabeth Hunter had her business well
in mind, and assured her that it would be only a formality to have the
appraising done, as she could buy it in her