o the stable, saying to Timothy Weeks, as he passed, "I'll
answer this letter in person."

Away cantered Timothy, and soon caused a flutter of expectancy in the
Weeks household, by announcing that "Old Holcroft looked black as a
thundercloud and was comin' himself."

"I tell you what 'tis, Cynthy, it's the turn of a hair with you now,"
growled Weeks. "Unless you agree to whatever Holcroft says, you haven't
the ghost of a chance."

The widow felt that a crisis had indeed come. Cousin Abiram's was the
next place in the order of visitation, but her last experience there
left her in painful doubt as to a future reception. Therefore she tied
on a new cap, smoothed her apron, and rocked with unwonted rapidity.
"It'll be according to the ordering of Providence--"

"Oh, pshaw!" interrupted Cousin Lemuel, "it'll be according to whether
you've got any sense or not."

Mrs. Weeks had been in a pitiable state of mind all day. She saw that
her husband had reached the limit of his endurance--that he had
virtually already "flown off the handle." But to have her own kin
actually bundled out of the house--what would people say?

Acceptance of Holcroft's terms, whatever they might be, was the only
way out of the awkward predicament, and so she began in a wheedling
tone, "Now, Cousin Cynthy, as Lemuel says, you've got a first-rate
chance. Holcroft's had an awful time with women, and he'll be glad
enough to do well by anyone who does fairly well by him. Everybody
says he's well off, and once you're fairly there and get things in your
own hands, there's no telling what may happen. He'll get a girl to help
you, and Jane's big enough now to do a good deal. Why, you'll be the
same as keeping house like the rest of us."

Further discussion was cut short by the arrival of the victim. He
stood awkwardly in the door of the Weeks sitting room for a moment,
seemingly at a loss how to state his case.

Mr. And Mrs. Weeks now resolved to appear neutral and allow the farmer
to make his terms. Then, like other superior powers in the background,
they proposed to exert a pressure on their relative and do a little
coercing. But the widow's course promised at first to relieve them of
all further effort. She suddenly seemed to become aware of Holcroft's
presence, sprang up, and gave him her hand very cordially.

"I'm glad to see you, sir," she began. "It's very considerate of you to
come for me. I can get ready in short order, and as for J