Histhirdwife，theoneoriginallysecuredforahousekeeper，borehimagirl，verymuchtohisdisgust，agirlnamedPatience，andgreatwasWaitstill’sdelightatthisadditiontothedullhousehold。Themotherwasatimid，colorless，docilecreature，butPatienceneverthelesswasasparkling，bright—eyedbaby，whospeedilybecametheverycentreoftheuniversetotheolderchild。Sothemonthsandyearsworeon，drearilyenough，until，whenPatiencewasnine，thethirdMrs。Baxtersuccumbedafterthemannerofherpredecessors，andslippedawayfromalifethathadgrownintolerable。Thetroublewasdiagnosedas"livercomplaint，"butscarcityofproperfood，nonewfrocksorkindwords，hardwork，andcontinualbullyingmaypossiblyhavebeencontributorycauses。Dr。Perrythoughtso，forhehadwitnessedthreemostcontenteddeathsintheBaxterhouse。TheladieswereallmembersofthechurchandhadpresumablymadetheirpeacewithGod，butthegooddoctorfanciedthattheirpleasureinjoiningtheangelswasmildcomparedwiththeirreliefatpartingwiththeDeacon。
"IknowIhadn’toughttoputthecareonyou，Waitstill，andyouonlythirteen，"poorMrs。Baxtersighed，astheyounggirlwaswatchingwithheronenightwhentheendseemeddrawingnear。
"I’vemadeouttolivetillnowwhenPatienceisoldenoughtodressherselfandhelpround，butI’mallbeatoutandcan’ttryanymore。"
"DoyoumeanI’mtotakeyourplace，beamothertoPatience，andkeephouse，andeverything？"askedWaitstillquaveringly。
"Idon’tseebutyou’llhaveto，unlessyourfathermarriesagain。He’llneverhirehelp，youknowthat！"
"Iwon’thaveanothermotherinthishouse，"flashedthegirl。
"There’sbeenthreehereandthat’senough！Ifhebringsanybodyhome，I’lltakePatienceandrunaway，asJobdid；orifheleavesmealone，I’llwashandironandscrubandcooktillPatiencegrowsup，andthenwe’llgoofftogetherandhidesomewhere。I’mfourteen；oh，mother，howsooncouldIbemarriedandtakePatiencetolivewithme？Doyouthinkanybodywilleverwantme？"
"Don’tmarryforahome，Waitstill！Yourownmotherdidthat，andsodidI，andwewerebothpunishedforit！You’vebeenagreathelpandI’vehadasightofcomfortoutofthebaby，butI
wouldn’tgothroughitagain，notevenforher！You’rerealsmartandcapableforyourageandyou’vedoneyourfullshareoftheworkeveryday，evenwhenyouwereatschool。Youcangetalongallright。"
"Idon’tknowhowI’mgoingtodoeverythingalone，"saidthegirl，forcingbackhertears。"You’vealwaysmadethebrownbread，andminewillneversuitfather。IsupposeIcanwash，butdon’tknowhowtoironstarchedclothes，normakepickles，andoh！Icanneverkillarooster，mother，it’snousetoaskmeto！
I’mnotbigenoughtobetheheadofthefamily。"
Mrs。Baxterturnedherpale，tiredfaceawayfromWaitstill’sappealingeyes。
"Iknow，"shesaidfaintly。"Ihatetoleaveyoutobearthebruntalone，butImust！……TakegoodcareofPatienceanddon’tlethergetintotrouble……Youwon’t，willyou？"
"I’llbecareful，"promisedWaitstill，sobbingquietly；"I’lldomybest。"
"You’vegotmorecouragethaneverIhad；don’tyous’poseyoucanstiffenupanddefendyourselfalittlemite？……Yourfather’doughttobeopposed，forhisowngood……butI’veneverseenanybodythatdareddoit。"Then，afterapause，shesaidwithaflashofspirit，——"Anyhow，Waitstill，he’syourfatherafterall。He’snobloodrelationofmine，andIcan’tstandhimanotherday；that’sthereasonI’mwillingtodie。"
IV
SOMETHINGOFAHERO
IVORYBOYNTONliftedthebarsthatdividedhislandfromthehighroadandwalkedslowlytowardthehouse。ItwasApril，buttherewerestillpatchesofsnowhereandthere，fastmeltingunderadrizzlingrain。Itwasagrayworld，ableak，black—and—brownworld，aboveandbelow。Theskywasleaden；theroadandthefootpathweredeepinamuddyoozefleckedwithwhite。Thetree—trunks，black，withbarebranches，werelinedagainstthegraysky；nevertheless，springhadbeenonthewayforaweek，andafewsunnydayswouldbringtheyearlymiracleforwhichallheartswerelonging。
Ivorywasseason—wiseandhisquickeyehadcaughtmanyasignashewalkedthroughthewoodsfromhisschoolhouse。Anewanddifferentcolorhauntedthetree—tops，andonehadonlytolookcloselyattheelmbudstoseethattheywerebeginningtoswell。
Somefatrobinshadbeensunningaboutintheschool—yardatnoon，andsparrowshadbeenchirpingandtwitteringonthefence—rails。Yes，thewinterwasover，andIvorywasglad，forithadmeantnocoastingand—skatingandsleighingforhim，butlongwalksindeepsnoworslush；longevenings，goodforstudy，butshortdays，andgreaterlonelinessforhismother。Hecouldseehernowashenearedthehouse，standingintheopendoorway，herhandshadinghereyes，watching，alwayswatching，forsomeonewhonevercame。
"Springisontheway，mother，butitisn’thereyet，sodon’tstandthereintherain，"hecalled。"LookatthenosegayI
gatheredforyouasIcamethroughthewoods。HerearepussywillowsandredmapleblossomsandMayflowers，wouldyoubelieveit？"
LoisBoyntontookthehandfulofbuddingthingsandsniffedtheirfragrance。
"You’relateto—night，Ivory，"shesaid。"Rodwantedhissupperearlysothathecouldgoofftosinging—school，butIkeptsomethingwarmforyou，andI’llmakeyouafreshcupoftea。"
Ivorywentintothelittleshedroomoffthekitchen，changedhismuddybootsforslippers，andmadehimselfgenerallytidy；thenhecamebacktotheliving—roombringingapineknotwhichheflungonthefire，wakingittoabrilliantflame。
"Wecanbeaslavishaswelikewiththestumpsnow，mother，forspringiscoming，"hesaid，ashesatdowntohismeal。
"I’vebeenlookingoutmorethanusualthisafternoon，"shereplied。"There’shardlyanysnowleft，andthoughthewalkingissobadI’vebeenratherexpectingyourfatherbeforenight。Yourememberhesaid，whenhewentawayinJanuary，thatheshouldbebackbeforetheMayflowersbloomed？"
Itdidnotdoanygoodtosay："Yes，mother，buttheMayflowershavebloomedtentimessincefatherwentaway。"Hehadtriedthat，gentlyandpersistentlywhenfirsthermindbegantobeconfusedfromlonggriefandhurtlove，strickenprideandsicksuspense。
Insteadofthat，Ivoryturnedthesubjectcheerily，saying，"Well，we’resureofagoodseason，Ithink。There’sbeenagrandsnow—fall，andthat，theysay，isthepoorman’smanure。RodandIwillputinmorecornandpotatoesthisyear。Ishan’thavetoworksingle—handedverylong，forheisgrowingtobequiteafarmer。"
"Yourfatherwasveryfondofgreencorn，buthenevercaredforpotatoes，"Mrs。Boyntonsaid，vaguely，takingupherknitting。"I
alwayshadgreatprideinmycooking，butIcouldnevergetyourfathertorelishmypotatoes。"
"Well，hissondoes，anyway，"Ivoryreplied，helpinghimselfplentifullyfromadishthatheldoneofhismother’sbestconcoctions，potatoesmincedfineandputtogetherintothespiderwiththinbitsofporkandallbrownedtogether。
"IsawtheBaxtergirlsto—day，mother，"hecontinued，notbecausehehopedshewouldgiveanyheedtowhathesaid，butfromthesheerlongingforcompanionship。"TheDeacondroveoffwithLawyerWilson，whowantedhimtogivetestimonyinsomecaseorotherdowninMilltown。TheminutePattysawhimgoingupSacoHill，sheharnessedtheoldstarvedBaxtermareandthegirlsstartedovertotheLowerCornertoseesomefriends。Itseemsit’sPatty’sbirthdayandtheywerecelebrating。Imetthemjustastheywerecomingbackandhelpedthemliftthericketywagonoutofthemud；theywerestuckinituptothehubsofthewheels。IadvisedthemtowalkuptheTown—HouseHilliftheyeverexpectedtogetthehorsehome。"
Town—HouseHill！"saidIvory’smother，droppingherknitting。
"Thatwaswherewehadsuchwonderfulmeetings！TrulytheLordwaspresentinourmidst，andoh，Ivory！thevisionswesawinthatplacewhenJacobCochranefirstunfoldedhisgospeltous。
Waseversuchaman！"
"Probablynot，mother，"remarkedIvorydryly。
"YouwerespeakingoftheBaxters。Iremembertheirhome，andthelittlegirlwhousedtostandinthegatewayandwatchwhenwecameoutofmeeting。Therewasababy，too；isn’tthereaBaxterbaby，Ivory？"
"Shedidn’tstayababy；sheisseventeenyearsoldto—day，mother。"
"Yousurpriseme，butchildrendogrowveryfast。Shehadastrangename，butIcannotrecallit。"
"HernameisPatience，butnobodybutherfathercallsheranythingbutPatty，whichsuitshermuchbetter。"
"No，thenamewasn’tPatience，nottheoneImean。"
"TheoldersisterisWaitstill，perhapsyoumeanher？"—andIvorysatdownbythefirewithhisbookandhispipe。
"Waitstill！Waitstill！thatisit！Suchabeautifulname！"
"She’sabeautifulgirl。"
"Waitstill！’Theyalsoservewhoonlystandandwait。’’Wait，I
say，ontheLordandHewillgivetheethedesiresofthyheart。’——Thosewerewonderfuldays，whenwewerecaughtupoutofthebodyandmingledfreelyinthespiritworld。"Mrs。BoyntonwasnowfullystartedonthetopicthatabsorbedhermindandIvorycoulddonothingbutlethertellthestorythatshehadtoldhimahundredtimes。
"IrememberwhenfirstweheardJacobCochranespeak。"（Thiswasherusualwayofbeginning。）"Yourfatherwasapreacher，asyouknow，Ivory，butyouwillneverknowwhatawonderfulpreacherhewas。Mygrandfather，beingafinegentleman，andagovernor，wouldnotgivehisconsenttomymarriage，butIneverregrettedit，never！YourfathersawElderCochraneatarevivalmeetingoftheFreeWillBaptistsinScarboro’，andwasmuchimpressedwithhim。Afewdayslaterwewenttothefuneralofachildinthesameneighborhood。Noonewhowastherecouldeverforgetit。Theministerhadmadehislongprayerwhenamansuddenlyenteredtheroom，cametowardsthecoffin，andplacedhishandonthechild’sforehead。Theroom，inaninstant，wasasstillasthedeaththathadcalledustogether。Thestrangerwastallandofcommandingpresence；hiseyespiercedourveryhearts，andhismarvellousvoicepenetratedtodepthsinoursoulsthathadneverbeenreachedbefore。"
"Washeabetterspeakerthanmyfather？"askedIvory，whodreadedhismother’shoursofcompletesilenceevenmorethanherperiodsofreminiscence。
"HespokeasiftheLordofHostshadgivenhiminspiration；asiftheangelswerepouringwordsintohismouthjustforhimtoutter，"repliedMrs。Boynton。"Yourfatherwasspell—bound，andI
onlylessso。Whenheceasedspeaking，thechild’smothercrossedtheroom，andswayingtoandfro，fellathisfeet，sobbingandwailingandimploringGodtoforgivehersins。
Theycarriedherupstairs，andwhenwelookedaboutaftertheconfusionandexcitementthestrangerhadvanished。Butwefoundhimagain！AsElderCochranesaid：’TheprophetoftheLordcanneverbehid；nodarknessisthickenoughtocoverhim！’Therewasasixweeks’revivalmeetinginNorthSacowherethreehundredsoulswereconverted，andyourfatherandIwereamongthem。Wehadfanciedourselvestruebelieversforyears，butJacobCochraneunstoppedourearssothatwecouldhearthetruthsrevealedtohimbytheAlmighty！—Itwasallsosimpleandeasyatthebeginning，butitgrewhardandgrievousafterward；
hardtokeepthepath，Imean。IneverquiteknewwhetherGodwasangrywithmeforbackslidingattheend，butIcouldnotalwaysaccepttherevelationsthatElderCochraneandyourfatherhad！"
LoisBoynton’shandswerenowquietlyfoldedovertheknittingthatlayforgotteninherlap，butherlow，thrillingvoicehadanoteinitthatdidnotbelongwhollytoearth。
Therewasalongsilence；oneofmanylongsilencesattheBoyntonfireside，brokenonlybythetickingoftheclock，thepurringofthecat，andtheclickingofMrs。Boynton’sneedles，as，herparoxysmofreminiscenceover，sheknittedceaselessly，withhereyesonthewindoworthedoor。
"It’sabouttimeforRodtobecomingback，isn’tit？"askedIvory。
"Heoughttobeheresoon，butperhapsheisgoneforgood；itmaybethathethinkshehasmadeusalongenoughvisit。Idon’tknowwhetheryourfatherwillliketheboywhenhecomeshome。Heneverdidfancycompanyinthehouse。"
IvorylookedupinastonishmentfromhisGreekgrammar。Thiswasanentirelynewturnofhismother’smind。Oftenwhenshewasmorethanusuallyconfusedhewouldtrytoclearthecobwebsfromherbrainbygentlyquestioningheruntilshebroughtherselfbacktoaclearerunderstandingofherownthought。Thusfarhervagarieshadnevermadeherunjusttoanyhumancreature；shewasuniformlysweetandgentleinspeechanddemeanor。
"WhydoyoutalkofRod’svisitinguswhenheisoneofthefamily？"Ivoryaskedquietly。
"Isheoneofthefamily？Ididn’tknowit，"repliedhismotherabsently。
"Lookatme，mother，straightintheeye；that’sright：nowlisten，dear，towhatIsay。"
Mrs。Boynton’shairthathadbeeninheryouthlikeanaureoleofcorn—silkwasnowastrangeyellow—white，andherblueeyeslookedoutfromherpalefacewithahelplessappeal。
"YouandIwerelivingalonehereafterfatherwentaway，"Ivorybegan。"Iwasalittleboy，youknow。Youandfatherhadsavedsomething，therewasthefarm，youworkedlikeaslave，Ihelped，andwelived，somehow，doyouremember？"
"Ido，indeed！Itwascoldandtheneighborswerecruel。JacobCochranehadgoneawayandhisdiscipleswerenotalwaystruetohim。Whenthemagnetismofhispresencewaswithdrawn，theycouldnotfollowallhisrevelations，andtheyforgothowhehadawakenedtheirspirituallifeatthefirstofhispreaching。Yourfatherwasalwaysastanchbeliever，butwhenhestartedonhismissionandwenttoParsonsfieldtohelpElderCochraneinhismeetings，theneighborsbegantocriticizehim。Theydoubtedhim。
Youweretooyoungtorealizeit，butIdid，anditalmostbrokemyheart。"
"Iwasnearlytwelveyearsold；doyouthinkIescapedallthegossip，mother？"
"Youneverspokeofittome，Ivory。"
"No，thereismuchthatIneverspokeoftoyou，mother，butsometimewhenyougrowstrongerandyourmemoryisbetterwewilltalktogether。——Doyourememberthewinter，longafterfatherwentaway，thatParsonLanesentmetoFairfieldAcademytogetenoughGreekandLatintomakemeaschoolmaster？"
"Yes，"sheanswereduncertainly。
"Don’tyourememberIgotafreeridedown—riveroneFridayandcamehomeforSunday，justtosurpriseyou？AndwhenIgothereI
foundyouillinbed，withMrs。MasonandDr。Perrytakingcareofyou。Youcouldnotspeak，youweresoill，buttheytoldmeyouhadbeenupinNewHampshiretoseeyoursister，thatshehaddied，andthatyouhadbroughtbackherboy，whowasonlyfouryearsold。ThatwasRod。Itookhimintobedwithmethatnight，poor，homesicklittlefellow，and，asyouknow，mother，he’sneverleftussince。"
"Ididn’trememberIhadasister。Isshedead，Ivory？"askedMrs。Boyntonvaguely。
"Ifshewerenotdead，doyousupposeyouwouldhavekeptRodmanwithuswhenwehadn’tbreadenoughforourowntwomouths，mother？"questionedIvorypatiently。
"No，ofcoursenot。Ican’tthinkhowIcanbesoforgetful。It’sworsesometimesthanothers。It’sworseto—daybecauseIknewtheMayflowerswerebloomingandthatremindedmeitwastimeforyourfathertocomehome；youmustforgiveme，dear，andwillyouexcusemeifIsitinthekitchenawhile？Thewindowbythesidedoorlooksouttowardstheroad，andifIputacandleonthesillitshinesquiteadistance。Thelaneissuchalongone，andyourfatherwasalwaysasadstumblerinthedark！Ishouldn’tlikehimtothinkIwasn’tlookingforhimwhenhe’sbeengonesinceJanuary。"
Ivory’spipewentout，andhisbookslippedfromhiskneeunnoticed。
Hismotherwasmoreconfusedthanusual，butshealwayswaswhenspringcametoremindherofherhusband’spromise。Somehow，wellusedashewastohermentalwanderings，theymadehimuneasyto—night。Hisfatherhadlefthomeonafanciedmission，adutyhebelievedtobearevelationgivenbyGodthroughJacobCochrane。Thefarmdidnotmisshimmuchatfirst，Ivoryreflectedbitterly，forsincehisfanaticalespousalofCochranismhisfather’sinterestinsuchmundanemattersashouseholdexpenseshaddiminishedmonthbymonthuntiltheyhadnomeaningforhimatall。Letterstowifeandboyhadcomeatfirst，butaftersixmonths——duringwhichhehadwrittenfrommanyplaces，continuallydeferringthedateofhisreturn—theyhadceasedaltogether。Therestwassilence。Rumorsofhispresencehereortherecamefromtimetotime，butthoughParsonLaneandDr。Perrydidtheirbest，noneofthemwereeversubstantiated。
Wherehadthoseyearsofwanderingbeenpassed，andhadtheyallbeengiveneventoanimaginaryandfantasticserviceofGod？Washisfatherdead？Ifhewerealive，whatcouldkeephimfromwriting？Nothingbutaverystrongreason，oraverywrongone，sohissonthought，attimes。
SinceIvoryhadgrowntoman’sestate，heunderstoodthatinthelaterdaysofCochrane’spreaching，his"visions，"
"inspirations，"and"revelations"concerningthemarriagebondwereatriflestartlingfromtheold—fashioned，orthodoxpointofview。Hismostadvanceddisciplesweretoholdthemselvesinreadinesstorenouncetheirformervowsandseek"spiritualconsorts，"sometimesaccordingtohisadvice，sometimesastheirinclinationsprompted。
HadAaronBoyntonforsaken，willingly，thewifeofhisyouth，themotherofhisboy？Ifso，hemusthaverealizedtowhatstraitshewassubjectingthem。Ivoryhadnotforgottenthosefirstfewyearsofgrindingpoverty，anxiety，andsuspense。Hismother’smindhadstoodthestrainbravely，butitgavewayatlast；not，however，untilthatfatalwinterjourneytoNewHampshire，whencold，exposure，andfatiguedidtheirworstforherweakbody。
Religiousenthusiast，exaltedandimpressionable，anaturalmystic，shehadprobablyalwaysbeen，farmoresointemperament，indeed，thanherhusband；butalthoughshelefthomeonthatjourneyafrailandheartsickwoman，shereturnedadifferentcreaturealtogether，blurredandconfusedinmind，withcloudedmemoryandirrationalfancies。
Shemusthavegivenuphope，justthen，Ivorythought，andherlovewassodeepthatwhenitwasuprootedthesoilcamewithit。
Nowhopehadreturnedbecausethecruelmemoryhadfadedaltogether。Shesatbythekitchenwindowingentleexpectation，watching，alwayswatching。
AndthisisthewaymanyofIvoryBoynton’seveningswerespent，whiletheheartofhim，thefive—and—twenty—year—oldheartofhim，waslongingtofeelthebeatofanotherheart，agirl’sheartonlyamileormoreaway。TheiceinSacoWaterhadbrokenupandthewhiteblockssailedmajesticallydowntowardsthesea；
sapwasmountingandtheelmtreeswerebudding；thetrailingarbutuswasblossominginthewoods；therobinshadcome；—everythingwasannouncingthespring，yetIvorysawnochangingseasonsinhisfuture；nothingbutwinter，eternalwinterthere！
V
PATIENCEANDIMPATIENCE
PATTYhadbeensearchingforeggsinthebarnchamber，andcomingdowntheladderfromthehaymowspiedherfatherwashingthewagonbythewell—sidenearthesheddoor。CephasColekeptstoreforhimatmealhoursandwhenevertradewasunusuallybrisk，andtheBaxteryardwassohappilysituatedthatOldFoxycouldwatchbothhouseandstore。
ThereneverwasagoodtimetoaskDeaconBaxterafavor，thereforethismomentwouldserveaswellasanyother，so，approachinghimnearenoughtobeheardthroughtherubbingandsplashing，butnonearerthanwasnecessaryPattysaid：——
"Father，canIgouptoEllenWilson’sthisafternoonandstaytotea？Iwon’tstarttillI’vedoneagoodday’sworkandI’llcomehomeearly。"
"Whatdoyouwanttogogallivantin’totheneighborsfor？I
neversawanythinglikethegirlsnowadays；highty—tighty，flauntin’，traipsin’，triflin’trollops，ev’ryoneof’em，that’swhattheyare，andEllenWilson’soneofthetriflin’est。
You’reoldenoughnowtostaytohomewhereyoubelongandmakeanefforttoearnyourboardandclothes，whichyoucan’t，evenifyoutry。"
Spunk，real，Simon—purespunk，startedsome—whereinPattyandcoursedthroughherbloodlikewine。
"Ifagirl’soldenoughtostayathomeandwork，Ishouldthinkshewasoldenoughtogooutandplayonceinawhile。"Pattywasstilltootimidtomakethisremarkmorethanacourteoussuggestion，sofarasitstonewasconcerned。
"Don’tanswermeback；you’refullofnewtricks，andyou’vegottostop’em，rightwhereyouare，orthere’llbetrouble。Youwerewhistlin’justnowupinthebarnchamber；that’soneofthethingsIwon’thaveroundmypremises，——awhistlin’girl。"
"’TwasaSabbath—SchoolhymnthatIwaswhistling！"Thiswithacreditableimitationofdefiance。
"Thatdon’tmakeitanybetter。Singyourhymnsifyoumustmakeanoisewhileyou’reworkin’。"
"It’sthesamemouththatmakesthewhistleandsingsthesong，soIdon’tseewhyone’sanywickederthantheother。"
"Youdon’thavetosee，"repliedtheDeacongrimly；"allyouhavetodoistomindwhenyou’respokento。Nowrun’long’boutyourwork。"
"Can’tIgouptoEllen’s，then？"
"What’sgoin’onupthere？"
"Justafrolic。There’salwaysagoodtimeatEllen’s，andI
wouldsolikethesightofabig，richhousenowandthen！"
"’Justafrolic。’Lando’Goshen，hearthegirl！’Sightofabig，richhouse，’indeed！——Willtherebeanyboysattheparty？"
"Is’poseso，or’twouldn’tbeafrolic，"saidPattywithawfuldaring；"buttherewon’tbemany；onlyafewofMark’sfriends。"
"Well，thereain’tgoin’tobenomoreargyfyin’！Iwon’thaveanygirlo’minefrolickin’withboys，sothat’stheendofit。
You’rekindo’crazylately，riggin’yourselfoutwitharibbonhereandaflowerthere，andpullin’yourhairdownoveryourears。Whydoyouwanttocoveryourearsup？Whataretheyfor？"
"Tohearyouwith，father，"Pattyreplied，withhoney—sweetvoiceandeyesthatblazed。
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