n't mean any offense, Jim. It was only one of my foolish
jokes. You were mighty slow to promise to love, honor, and obey, but
hanged if you aint more on that line than any man in town. I can see
she's turning out well and keeping her agreement."

"Yes, that's just what she's doing," said the farmer gloomily. "She's a
good, capable woman that'll sacrifice herself to her duty any day. But
it wasn't to talk about her I came. She's a sight better than I am,
but she's probably not good enough for anybody in this town to speak
to."

"Oh, pshaw; now, Jim!"

"Well, I've come on disagreeable business. I didn't know that Mrs.
Mumpson and her child were here, and I wish to the Lord they could both
stay here! You've found out what the mother is, I suppose?"

"I should say so," replied Tom, laughing. "She's talked several of the
old women to death already. The first day she was here she called on
my wife and claimed social relations, because she's so 'respecterbly
connected,' as she says. I thought Angy'd have a fit. Her respectable
connections have got to take her off my hands."

"I'm not one of 'em, thank goodness!" resumed Holcroft. "But I'm
willing to take the girl and give her a chance--at least I'll do it,"
he corrected himself, in his strict observance of truth. "You can see
she's not a child to dote on, but I was sorry for her when I sent her
mother away and said I'd try and do something for her. The first thing
I knew she was at the house, begging me to either take her in or kill
her. I couldn't say no, though I wanted to. Now, you see what kind of
a good Samaritan I am."

"Oh, I know you! You'd hit a man between the eyes if he charged you
with doing a good deed. But what does your wife say to adopting such a
cherub?"

"We're not going to adopt her or bind ourselves. My wife took the
child's part and plead with me in her behalf, though I could see the
young one almost made her sick. She thinks it's her duty, you know,
and that's enough for her."

"By jocks, Holcroft! She don't feel that way about you, does she?"

"Why shouldn't she?"

"Why should she? I can take about anything from Angy, but it wouldn't
do for her to let me see that she disliked me so that I kinder made her
sick."

"Oh, thunder, Tom! You're getting a wrong impression. I was never
treated better by anybody in my life than by Mrs. Holcroft. She's a
lady, every inch of her. But there's no reason why she should dote on
an ol