I am sorry and can ask
forgiveness. I do ask your forgiveness, Mr. Holcroft. I've been
ashamed of myself ever since you brought my cousin back. I thought she
would try, when she had the chance you gave her, but she seems to have
no sense."

"There, there! Let bygones be bygones," said the farmer in
embarrassment. "I've surrendered. Please don't say anything more."

"You've got a kind heart, in spite--"

"Oh, come now! Please quit, or I'll begin to swear a little to keep up
the reputation my neighbors have given me. Go home and tell Tim to
brace up and try to be a man. When I say I'm done with a grudge, I AM
done. You and Mrs. Holcroft can talk all you like, but please excuse
me," and with more than most men's horror of a scene, he escaped
precipitately.

"Sit down, Mrs. Weeks," said Alida kindly.

"Well, I will. I can't say much to excuse myself or my folks--"

"You've already said everything, Mrs. Weeks," interrupted Alida gently;
"you've said you are sorry."

Mrs. Weeks stared a moment, and then resumed sententiously, "Well, I've
heard more gospel in that remark than if I'd gone to church. And I
couldn't go to church, I could never have gone there again or held my
head up anywhere if--if--"

"That's all past and gone," said Alida, smiling. "When Mr. Holcroft
says anything, you may depend on it."

"Well, God bless you for intercedin'--you had so much to forgive.
Nobody shall ever speak a word against you again while I've got breath
to answer. I wish you'd let me come and see you sometimes."

"Whenever you wish, if you care to visit one who has had so much--so
much trouble."

"I see now that's all the more reason I should come, for if it hadn't
been for you, I'd have been in bitter trouble myself. We've been worse
than heathen, standin' off and talking against you. Oh, I've had a
lesson I won't forget! Well, I must hurry home, for I left Timothy and
Lemuel in a dreadful state."

Seeing the farmer in the barn as she was passing, she rushed to him.
"You've got to shake hands with me, Mr. Holcroft. Your wife IS a good
woman, and she's a lady, too. Anyone with half an eye can see she's
not one of the common sort."

The farmer shook the poor woman's hand good-naturedly and said
heartily, "That's so! All right, meeting's over. Goodbye." Then he
turned to his work and chuckled, "That's what Tom Watterly said. Thank
the Lord! She ISN'T of the common sort. I've got to brace up and be
more