ety,
not only in a friendly, businesslike way, but in another way--yes,
confound my slow wits! Somewhat as if she was my wife in reality and
not merely in name, as I insisted. It's mighty mean business in me,
who have been so proud of standing up to my agreements and so exacting
of others to do the same. I went away cold and stiff this afternoon
because she wasn't silly and sentimental when I was. I'm to her an
unpolished, homely, middle-aged man, and yet I sort of scoffed at the
self-sacrifice which has led her to be pleasant and companionable in
every way that her feelings allowed. I wish I were younger and better
looking, so it wouldn't all be a sense of duty and gratitude.
Gratitude be hanged! I don't want any more of it. Well, now, James
Holcroft, if you're the square man you supposed yourself to be, you'll
be just as kind and considerate as you know how, and then you'll leave
Alida to the quiet, peaceful life to which she looked forward when she
married you. The thing for you to do is to go back to your first ways
after you were married and attend to the farm. She doesn't want you
hanging around and looking at her as if she was one of her own posies.
That's something she wasn't led to expect and it would be mean enough
to force it upon her before she shows that she wishes it, and I
couldn't complain if she NEVER wished it."

During the first hour after Holcroft's departure Alida had been
perplexed and worried, but her intuitions soon led to hopefulness, and
the beauty and peace of nature without aided in restoring her serenity.
The more minutely she dwelt on Holcroft's words and manner, the more
true it seemed that he was learning to take an interest in her that was
personal and apart from every other consideration. "If I am gentle,
patient, and faithful," she thought, "all will come out right. He is
so true and straightforward that I need have no fears."

When he returned and greeted her with what seemed his old, friendly,
natural manner, and, during a temporary absence of Jane, told her
laughingly of the Mumpson episode, she was almost completely reassured.
"Suppose the widow breaks through all restraint and appears as did
Jane, what would you do?" he asked.

"Whatever you wished," she replied, smiling.

"In other words, what you thought your duty?"

"I suppose that is what one should try to do."

"I guess you are the one that would succeed in doing it, even to Mrs.
Mumpson," he said, turning ha