ane, go help
Mrs. Wiggins get supper."

His anger and disgust grew so strong as he hastily did his evening work
that he resolved not to endanger his self-control by sitting down
within earshot of Mrs. Mumpson. As soon as possible, therefore, he
carried the new stove to his room and put it up. The widow tried to
address him as he passed in and out, but he paid no heed to her. At
last, he only paused long enough at the kitchen door to say, "Jane,
bring me some supper to my room. Remember, you only are to bring it."

Bewildered and abashed, Mrs. Mumpson rocked nervously. "I had looked
for relentings this evening, a general softening," she murmured, "and I
don't understand his bearing toward me." Then a happy thought struck
her. "I see, I see," she cried softly and ecstatically: "He is
struggling with himself; he finds that he must either deny himself my
society or yield at once. The end is near."

A little later she, too, appeared at the kitchen door and said, with
serious sweetness, "Jane, you can also bring me MY supper to the
parlor."

Mrs. Wiggins shook with mirth in all her vast proportions as she
remarked, "Jane, ye can bring me MY supper from the stove to the table
'ere, and then vait hon yeself."

Chapter XIII.

Not Wife, But Waif

Tom Watterly's horse was the pride of his heart. It was a bobtailed,
rawboned animal, but, as Tom complacently remarked to Alida, "He can
pass about anything on the road"--a boast that he let no chance escape
of verifying. It was a terrible ordeal to the poor woman to go dashing
through the streets in an open wagon, feeling that every eye was upon
her. With head bowed down, she employed her failing strength in
holding herself from falling out, yet almost wishing that she might be
dashed against some object that would end her wretched life. It
finally occurred to Tom that the woman at his side might not, after her
recent experience, share in his enthusiasm, and he pulled up remarking,
with a rough effort at sympathy, "It's a cussed shame you've been
treated so, and as soon as you're ready, I'll help you get even with
the scamp."

"I'm not well, sir," said Alida humbly. "I only ask for a quiet place
where I can rest till strong enough to do some kind of work."

"Well, well," said Tom kindly, "don't lose heart. We'll do the best by
you we can. That aint saying very much, though, for we're full and
running over."

He soon drew rein at the poorhouse door and spra