ment later she said that she was
pleased to meet me, and I felt as if the worst were over. William must
have felt some apprehension, while I was only ignorant, as we had come
across the field. Our hostess was more than disapproving, she was
forbidding; but I was not long in suspecting that she felt the natural
resentment of a strong energy that has been defeated by illness and
made the spoil of captivity.

"Mother well as usual since you was up last year?" and William replied
by a series of cheerful nods. The mention of dear Mrs. Blackett was a
help to any conversation.

"Been fishin', ashore," he explained, in a somewhat conciliatory voice.
"Thought you'd like a few for winter," which explained at once the
generous freight we had brought in the back of the wagon. I could see
that the offering was no surprise, and that Mrs. Hight was interested.

"Well, I expect they 're good as the last," she said, but did not even
approach a smile. She kept a straight, discerning eye upon me.

"Give the lady a cheer," she admonished William, who hastened to place
close by her side one of the straight-backed chairs that stood against
the kitchen wall. Then he lingered for a moment like a timid boy. I
could see that he wore a look of resolve, but he did not ask the
permission for which he evidently waited.

"You can go search for Esther," she said, at the end of a long pause
that became anxious for both her guests. "Esther 'd like to see her;"
and William in his pale nankeens disappeared with one light step and
was off.

VI.

"Don't speak too loud, it jars a person's head," directed Mrs. Hight
plainly. "Clear an' distinct is what reaches me best. Any news to the
Landin'?"

I was happily furnished with the particulars of a sudden death, and an
engagement of marriage between a Caplin, a seafaring widower home from
his voyage, and one of the younger Harrises; and now Mrs. Hight really
smiled and settled herself in her chair. We exhausted one subject
completely before we turned to the other. One of the returning turkeys
took an unwarrantable liberty, and, mounting the doorstep, came in and
walked about the kitchen without being observed by its strict owner;
and the tin dipper slipped off its nail behind us and made an
astonishing noise, and jar enough to reach Mrs. Hight's inner ear and
make her turn her head to look at it; but we talked straight on. We
came at last to understand each other upon such terms of frie