Nobody

"The Lord won't do that," said the old lady. "He will either make thembetter, or he will cast them away."

"But we? We must deal with things as they are."

"How are you goin' to deal with 'em?"

"In charity and kindness; having patience with what is wrong, andbelieving that the good God will have more patience yet."

"You had better believe what he tells you," the old lady answered, somewhat sternly.

"But grandmother," Lois put in here, "he does have patience."

"With whom, child?"

Lois did not answer; she only quoted softly the words —

"'Plenteous in mercy, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth.'"

"Ay, child; but you know what happens to the houses built on the sand."

The party broke up here, Mrs. Barclay bidding good-night and leavingthe dining-room, whither they had all gone to eat apples. As Philipparted from Lois he remarked, —

"I did not understand the allusion in Mrs. Armadale's last words."

Lois's look fascinated him. It was just a moment's look, pausing beforeturning away; swift with eagerness and intent with some hidden feelingwhich he hardly comprehended. She only said, —

"Look in the end of the seventh chapter of Matthew."

"Well," said Mrs. Barclay, when the door was closed, "what do you thinkof our progress?"

"Progress?" repeated Philip vacantly. "I beg your pardon!" —

"In music, man!" said Mrs. Barclay, laughing.

"O! – Admirable. Have you a Bible here?"

"A Bible?" Mrs. Barclay echoed. "Yes – there is a Bible in every room, Ibelieve. Yonder, on that table. Why? what do you want of one now?"

"I have had a sermon preached to me, and I want to find the text."

Mrs. Barclay asked no further, but she watched him, as with the book inhis hand he sat down before the fire and studied the open page. Studiedwith grave thoughtfulness, drawing his brows a little, and ponderingwith eyes fixed on the words for some length of time. Then he bade hergood-night with a smile, and went away.

He went away in good earnest next day; but as a subject of conversationin the village his visit lasted a good while. That same evening Mrs.Marx came to make a call, just before supper.

"How much pork are you goin' to want this year, mother?" she began, with the business of one who had been stirring her energies with a walkin a cool wind.

"I suppose, about as usual," said Mrs. Armadale.

"I forget how much that is; I can't keep it in my head from one year toanother. Besides, I didn't know but you'd want an extra quantity, ifyour family was goin' to be larger."

"It is not going to be larger, as I know."

"If my pork ain't, I shall come short home. It beats me! I've fed 'emjust the same as usual, – and the corn's every bit as good as usual, never better; good big fat yellow ears, that had ought to make aporker's heart dance for joy; and I should think they were sufferin'from continual lowness o' spirits, to judge by the way they don't getfat. They're growing real long-legged and slab-sided – just the way Ihate to see pigs look. I don' know what's the matter with 'em."

"Where do you keep 'em?"

"Under the barn – just where they always be. Well, you've had a visitor?"

"Mrs. Barclay has."

"I understood 'twas her company; but you saw him?"

"We saw him as much as she did," put in Charity.

"What's he like?"

Nobody answered.

"Is he one of your high-flyers?"

"I don't know what you call high-flyers, aunt Anne," said Madge. "Hewas a gentleman."

"What do you mean by that? I saw some 'gentlemen' last summer at

Appledore – and I don't want to see no more. Was he that kind?"

"I wasn't there," said Madge, "and can't tell. I should have noobjection to see a good many of them, if he is."

"I heard he went to Sunday School with Lois, through the rain."

"How did you know?" said Lois.

"Why shouldn't I know?"

"I thought nobody was out but me."

"Do you think folks will see an umbrella walkin' up street in the rain, and not look to see if there's somebody under it?"

"I shouldn't," said Lois. "When should an umbrella be out walking, but in the rain?"

"Well, go along. What sort of a man is he? and what brings him to

Shampuashuh?"

"He came to see Mrs. Barclay," said Madge.

"He's a sort of man you are willin' to take trouble for," said Charity."Real nice, and considerate; and to hear him talk, it is as good as abook; and he's awfully polite. You should have seen him marching inhere with Lois's wet cloak, out to the kitchen with it, and hangin' itup. So to pay, I turned round and hung up his'n. One good turn deservesanother, I told him. But at first, I declare, I thought I couldn't keepfrom laughin'."

Mrs. Marx laughed a little here. "I know the sort," she said. "Wearskid gloves always and a little line of hair over his upper lip, and islazy like. I would lose all my patience to have one o' them round forlong, smokin' a cigar every other thing, and poisonin' all the air forhalf a mile."