e. That gossipping, old
Mother Wynn made up her mind to let 'em have their fling for once, but
they've gone and dragged me into it after all, and I mean to let the
whole lot see that I'm enough for them, single-handed.

"I believe that I'll put on my bonnet and start out. I feel too excited
to accomplish anything this morning, so, if you'll just help Rose
through with the bakin', I guess I'll make one or two short calls, here
and there, to see what's going on."

Only too glad to get rid of her own thoughts, Clemence assented, and was
soon so busily engrossed in her occupation, that she did not hear when
there came a rap at the outer door.

"Mr. Strain," said Rose, coming in suddenly, with a singular expression
of countenance, "and, if you'll believe it, he asked to see you alone."

"What for, I wonder?" said Clemence, nervously, pressing her hand to her
aching forehead, "I cannot imagine what he wants."

"Nor I," said Rose, "of _you_." And when Clemence asked her to follow
immediately, declared, with a toss of the head, "she couldn't see it,
two's a company and three's a crowd, you know. I wasn't called for, and
I never go where I ain't wanted. Hurry up, too, and get rid of him, for
there's all this work to be done before mother comes home."

Thus adjured, Clemence, with an effort to recover herself, entered
quietly the room where the gentleman awaited her. After a little
desultory conversation, he came at once to the object of his visit.

It was as Clemence had feared, and she felt pained to reject the offer
which was now made her in a straightforward, business-like manner.

She thanked him gratefully, speaking of her present isolated and unhappy
position.

"Yes," said Mr. Strain, complacently stroking his moustache, and seeming
in no wise disconcerted by his rejection, "I had heard of your little
difficulty, and it was with that in view that I called to offer you my
protection. I thought if you were once my wife, that these gossipping
tongues could be effectually silenced."

"Indeed, I thank you sincerely for your generosity and magnanimity,"
said Clemence, "and I shall ever remember you with a sense of deep
obligation."

"Oh, you owe me no thanks," said the gentleman, gazing upon her
disturbed face, admiringly, "even if I believed the fabrications of your
enemies, it would not have altered my resolution. I am not, as you may
have observed, exactly one of these people. I have moved amid far
different scen