\"I\'mafraidoldMarthaisdying，\"saidEmma。Jimwasnotthesortofpersontowhomonehadtobreaknewsgently。
\"Nonsense，\"hesaid；\"Marthameanstolivetoahundred。Shetoldmeso，andshe\'lldoit。\"
\"Shemaybeactuallydyingatthismoment，oritmayjustbethebeginningofthebreak-up，\"persistedEmma，withafeelingofcontemptfortheslownessanddulnessoftheyoungman。
Agrinspreadoverhisgood-naturedfeatures。
\"Itdon\'tlooklikeit，\"hesaid，noddingtowardstheyard。Emmaturnedtocatchthemeaningofhisremark。OldMarthastoodinthemiddleofamobofpoultryscatteringhandfulsofgrainaroundher。Theturkey-cock，withthebronzedsheenofhisfeathersandthepurple-redofhiswattles，thegamecock，withtheglowingmetalliclustreofhisEasternplumage，thehens，withtheirochresandbuffsandumbersandtheirscarletcombs，andthedrakes，withtheirbottle-greenheads，madeamedleyofrichcolour，inthecentreofwhichtheoldwomanlookedlikeawitheredstalkstandingamidariotousgrowthofgaily-huedflowers。Butshethrewthegraindeftlyamidthewildernessofbeaks，andherquaveringvoicecarriedasfarasthetwopeoplewhowerewatchingher。Shewasstillharpingonthethemeofdeathcomingtothefarm。