shed which had received her
eighteen years before.

It was wonderful that she should have begun the first chapter of
her life there, and that she should return to the same spot to
open the second chapter.

She felt relieved when Jonas left her to herself. Then she at
once set to work on the house, in which there was much to be done.
She was ambitious to get it into order and comfort before Mrs.
Verstage came to visit her in her new quarters.

As she worked, her mind reverted to the Ship. Would she be missed
there? Would the new maid engaged be as active and attentive as
she had been? Her place in the hearts of the old couple was now
occupied by Iver. However much the innkeeper might pretend to be
hard of reconciliation, yet he must yearn after his own son; he must
be proud of him now that Iver was grown so fine and independent,
and had carved for himself a place in the world.

When the first feeling of regret over her departure was passed
away, then all their thoughts, their aspirations, their pride
would be engrossed by Iver.

Mehetabel was scouring a saucepan. She lowered it, and her hands
remained inactive. Iver!--she saw him, as he stood before her in
the Ship, extending his hands to her. She almost felt his grasp
again.

Mehetabel brushed back the hair that had fallen over her face; and
as she did so a tear ran down her cheek.

Then she heard her husband's voice; he was speaking with Samuel
Rocliffe, his nephew; and it struck her as never before, how
harsh, how querulous was his intonation.

During the day, Mrs. Rocliffe came in, looked about inquisitively,
and pursed up her lips when she saw the change effected, and
conjectured that more was likely to follow.

"I suppose nuthin' is good enough as it was--but you must put
everything upside down?"

"On the contrary, I am setting on its feet everything I have
found topsy-turvy."

To the great surprise of all, on the following Sunday, Bideabout,
in his best suit, accompanied Mehetabel to church. He had never
been a church-goer. He begrudged having to pay tithes. He begrudged
having to pay something for his seat in addition to tithes to the
church, if he went to a dissenting chapel. If religious ministrations
weren't voluntary and gratuitous, "then," said Jonas, "he didn't
think nuthin' of 'em."

Jonas had been disposed to scoff at religion, and to work on
Sundays, though not so openly as on other days of the week. He
went to church now because he wa