ow could
those clouds float so softly! -- how could the light and shadow
rest so lovely on them! -- how could the blue ether look so
still and clear! "Can one be like that?" -- thought Elizabeth.
"Can I? -- with this boiling depth of passion and will in my
nature? -- _One_ can --" and she again turned her eyes within. But
nothing was there, save the table, the supper, and Karen. The
question arose, what she herself was standing there for? but
passion and will said they did not care! she would stand
there; and she did. It was pleasant to stand there; for
passion and will, though they had their way, seemed to her
feeling to be quieted down under nature's influences. Perhaps
the most prominent thought now was of a great discord between
nature and her, between her and right, -- which was to be made
up. But still, while her face was towards the western sky and
soft wind, and her mind thought this, her ear listened for a
step on the kitchen floor. The colours of the western sky had
grown graver and cooler before it came.

It came, and there was the scrape of a chair on the wooden
floor. He had sat down, and Karen had got up; but Elizabeth
would not look in.

"Are ye hungry enough now, Governor?"

"I hope so, Karen, -- for your sake."

"Ye don't care much for your own," said Karen discontentedly.

Perhaps Winthrop -- perhaps Elizabeth, thought that she made up
his lack of it. Elizabeth watched, stealthily, to see how the
old woman waited upon him -- hovered about him -- supplied his
wants, actual and possible, and stood looking at him when she
could do nothing else. She could not understand the low word
or two with which Winthrop now and then rewarded her. Bitter
feeling overcame her at last; she turned away, too much out of
tune with nature to notice any more, unless by way of
contrast, what nature had spread about her and over her. She
went round the house again to the front and sat down in the
doorway. The stars were out, the moonlight lay soft on the
water, the dews fell heavily.

"Miss Lizzie! -- you'll catch seven deaths out there! -- the
day's bad enough, but the night's five times worse," -- Clam
exclaimed.

"I shan't catch but one," Elizabeth said gloomily.

"Your muslin's all wet, drinchin'!"

"It will dry."

"I can hang it up, I s'pose; but what'll I do with you if you
get sick?"

"Nothing whatever! Let me alone, Clam."

"Mis' Nettles! --" said Clam going in towards the kitchen, --
"Mis' Nettles