taken
time to think deeply and calmly," she murmured. "The proper course has
been made clear to me. He is somewhat uncouth; he is silent and unable
to express his thoughts and emotions--in brief, undeveloped; he is
awfully irreligious. Moth and rust are busy in this house; much that
would be so useful is going to waste. He must learn to look upon me as
the developer, the caretaker, a patient and healthful embodiment of
female influence. I will now begin actively my mission of making him
an ornerment to society. That mountainous Mrs. Viggins must be
replaced by a deferential girl who will naturally look up to me. How
can I be a true caretaker--how can I bring repose and refinement to
this dwelling with two hundred pounds of female impudence in my way?
Mr. Holcroft shall see that Mrs. Viggins is an unseemly and jarring
discord in our home," and she brought the rocking chair from the parlor
to the kitchen, with a serene and lofty air. Jane hovered near the
window, watching.

At first, there was an ominous silence in respect to words. Portentous
sounds increased, however, for Mrs. Wiggins strode about with martial
tread, making the boards creak and the dishes clatter, while her red
eyes shot lurid and sanguinary gleams. She would seize a dipper as if
it were a foe, slamming it upon the table again as if striking an
enemy. Under her vigorous manipulation, kettles and pans resounded
with reports like firearms.

Mrs. Mumpson was evidently perturbed; her calm superiority was
forsaking her; every moment she rocked faster--a sure indication that
she was not at peace. At last she said, with great dignity: "Mrs.
Viggins, I must request you to perform your tasks with less clamor. My
nerves are not equal to this peculiar way of taking up and laying down
things."

"Vell, jes' ye vait a minute, han hi'll show ye 'ow hi kin take hup
things han put 'em down hag'in hout o' my vay," and before Mrs. Mumpson
could interfere, she found herself lifted, chair and all bodily, and
carried to the parlor. Between trepidation and anger, she could only
gasp during the transit, and when left in the middle of the parlor
floor she looked around in utter bewilderment.

It so happened that Holcroft, on his way from the barn, had seen Jane
looking in at the window, and, suspecting something amiss, had arrived
just in time for the spectacle. Convulsed with laughter, he returned
hastily to the barn; while Jane expressed her feelings, whatev