he great
thing to be considered is a caretaker; one who, by thoughtfulness and
the employment of her mind, will make the labor of others affective."

During this speech, Holcroft could only stare at the woman. The rapid
motion of her thin jaw seemed to fascinate him, and he was in
perplexity over not merely her rapid utterance, but also the queries.
Had she maliciously spoiled the coffee? Or didn't she know any better?
"I can't make her out," he thought, "but she shall learn that I have a
will of my own," and he quietly rose, took the coffeepot, and poured
its contents out of doors; then went through the whole process of
making his favorite beverage again, saying coldly, "Jane, you had
better watch close this time. I don't wish anyone to touch the
coffeepot but you."

Even Mrs. Mumpson was a little abashed by his manner, but when he
resumed his breakfast she speedily recovered her complacency and
volubility. "I've always heard," she said, with her little cackling
laugh, "that men would be extravergant, especially in some things.
There are some things they're fidgety about and will have just so.
Well, well, who has a better right than a well-to-do, fore-handed man?
Woman is to complement the man, and it should be her aim to study the
great--the great--shall we say reason, for her being? Which is
adaptation," and she uttered the word with feeling, assured that
Holcroft could not fail of being impressed by it. The poor man was
bolting such food as had been prepared in his haste to get away.

"Yes," continued the widow, "adaptation is woman's mission and--"

"Really, Mrs. Mumpson, your and Jane's mission this morning will be to
get as much butter as possible out of the cream and milk on hand. I'll
set the old dog on the wheel, and start the churn within half an hour,"
and he rose with the thought, "I'd rather finish my breakfast on milk
and coffee by and by than stand this." And he said, "Please let the
coffee be until I come in to show you about taking out and working the
butter."

The scenes in the dairy need not be dwelt upon. He saw that Jane might
be taught, and that she would probably try to do all that her strength
permitted. It was perfectly clear that Mrs. Mumpson was not only
ignorant of the duties which he had employed her to perform, but that
she was also too preoccupied with her talk and notions of gentility
ever to learn. He was already satisfied that in inducing him to engage
her, Lemuel Weeks h