the
farmer much better enlightened himself in regard to his irritation. He
had received an unexpected impression and it seemed to fit in with
other things and explain them. She returned slowly and dejectedly to
the house, leaving unsaid the words she meant to speak about Jane's
relations to her. Now she wished that she had imitated Jane, and
merely nodded to the farmer's questions. "If he knew how far I am
beyond the point of liking, I don't know what he'd do or say," she
thought, "and I suppose that's the reason I couldn't answer him
frankly, in a way that would have satisfied him. It's a pity I
couldn't begin to just LIKE a little at first, as he does and have
everything grow as gradually and quietly as one of his cornstalks.
That's the way I meant it should be; but when he stood up for me and
defended me from those men, my heart just melted, and in spite of
myself, I felt I could die for him. It can't be such an awful thing
for a woman to fall in love with her husband, and yet--yet I'd rather
put my hand in the fire than let him know how I feel. Oh, dear! I
wish Jane hadn't been born, as she says. Trouble is beginning already,
and it was all so nice before she came."

In a few moments Holcroft drove up. Alida stood in the door and looked
timidly at him. He thought she appeared a little pale and troubled,
but his bad mood prevailed and he only asked briefly, "Can't I get
something for you?"

She shook her head.

"Well, goodbye, then," and he drove away with Jane, who was confirmed
in her line of policy. "She's afraid of 'im too," thought the child.
"Mind her! Guess not, unless he says so." She watched the farmer
furtively and concluded that she had never known him to look more grim
or be more silent even under her mother's blandishments. "He's married
this one, I s'pose, to keep house for 'im, but he don't like her
follerin' 'im up or bein' for'ard any more'n he did mother. Shouldn't
wonder if he didn't keep her, either, if she don't suit better. She
needn't 'a' put on such airs with me, for I'm goin' to stick to him."

Chapter XXIX.

Husband and Wife in Trouble

Like many others with simple, strong natures, Holcroft could not be
wrong-headed moderately, and his thoughts, once started in a direction
were apt to carry him much farther than the cause warranted. Engrossed
in painful and rather bitter musings, he paid no heed to Jane and
almost forgot his errand to town. "I was a fool to ask that