n't pay her good wages to make my life a burden a day
longer," and with like self-communings he spent the evening until the
habit of early drowsiness overcame him.

The morning found Jane dispirited and a little sullen, as older and
wiser people are apt to be when disappointed. She employed herself in
getting breakfast carelessly and languidly, and the result was not
satisfactory.

"Where's your mother?" Holcroft asked when he came in.

"She told me to tell you she was indisposed."

"Indisposed to go to Lemuel Weeks'?"

"I 'spect she means she's sick."

He frowned and looked suspiciously at the girl. Here was a new
complication, and very possibly a trick.

"What's the matter with her?"

"Dunno."

"Well, she had better get well enough to go by this afternoon," he
remarked, controlling his irritation with difficulty, and nothing more
was said.

Full of his new plans he spent a busy forenoon and then came to dinner.
It was the same old story. He went up and knocked at Mrs. Mumpson's
door, saying that he wished to speak with her.

"I'm too indisposed to transact business," she replied feebly.

"You must be ready tomorrow morning," he called. "I have business plans
which can't be delayed," and he turned away muttering rather sulphurous
words.

"He will relent; his hard heart will soften at last--" But we shall not
weary the reader with the long soliloquies with which she beguiled her
politic seclusion, as she regarded it. Poor, unsophisticated Jane made
matters worse. The condition of life among her much-visited relatives
now existed again. She was not wanted, and her old sly, sullen, and
furtive manner reasserted itself. Much of Holcroft's sympathy was thus
alienated, yet he partially understood and pitied her. It became,
however, all the more clear that he must get rid of both mother and
child, and that further relations with either of them could only lead
to trouble.

The following morning only Jane appeared. "Is your mother really sick?"
he asked.

"S'pose so," was the laconic reply.

"You haven't taken much pains with the breakfast, Jane."

"'Taint no use."

With knitted brows he thought deeply, and silently ate the wretched
meal which had been prepared. Then, remarking that he might do some
writing, he went up to a small attic room which had been used
occasionally by a hired man. It contained a covered pipe-hole leading
into the chimney flue. Removing the cover, he stopped up the flue