Thenshesteppedintothecarriage，andhewaitedasecond，quitelongenoughtoletherseethathewasperfectlywillingtosittherealldayifshewantedhimto，andthenheslowlyandcarefullydrovehome，ashealwaysdidwhenshewasinthecarriage。Timeswhenhehaduschildrenoutalone，hewentuntilyoucouldn’tseethespokesinthewheels。Hejustlovedto“speedup“onceinawhileonapieceoffineroadtoletusknowhowgoingfastfelt。
Mothersattheretremblingalittle，smiling，misty-eyed。Iwasthinking，forIknewwhatthe“flyintheointment“was。ShehadaletterfromShelleyyesterday，andshesaidtherewasn’tareasononearthwhyfatherorLaddieshouldspendmoneytocometoChicago，shewouldsoonbehome，shewascountingthehours，andsheneverwantedtoleaveagain。Inthestartshedidn’twanttogoatall，unlessshecouldstaythreeyears，attheveryleast。Ofcourseitwasthatdreadfulman，whohadmadehersobeautifulandhappy，andthentakenawayallthejoy；howCOULDamandoit？Itwasthehardestthingtounderstand。
Nextmorningmotherwasfeelingfine，theworldwaslovely，MissAmeliawasgone，Maywashometohelp，soshebeganhousecleaningbywashingallthecurtains。ShehadbeeninthekitchentoshowCandacehow。Ihadallmyworkdone，andwasmakingfriendswitharobinbroodinginmyveryowncatalpatree，whenMr。Pryorrodeup，tiedhishorse，andstartedtowardthegate。Iknewheandfatherhadquarrelled；thatis，fatherhadtoldhimhecouldn’tsay“Godwasamyth“inthishouse，andhe’dgonehomemadashops；soIknewitwouldbesomethingmightyimportantthatwasbringinghimback。Islidfromthetree，ranandopenedthegate，andledthewayupthewalk。Iopenedthefrontdoorandaskedhimin，andthenIdidthewrongthing。Ishouldhavetakenhishat，toldhimtobeseated，andsaidIwouldseeifI
couldfindfather；Iknewwhattodo，andhowtodoit，butbecauseofthataboutGod，IwassoexcitedImadeamistake。I
nevertookhishat，orofferedhimachair；Ijustboltedintothedining-room，lookingforfatherormother，andleftthedoorwideopen，sohethoughtthatwasn’ttheplacetosit，becauseI
didn’tgivehimachair，andhefollowedme。TheinstantIsawmother’sface，IknewwhatIhaddone。Thedining-roomwasnoplaceforparticularcompanylikehim，andbringinghiminthatwaydidn’tgivehertimetosmoothherhair，pullshutherdressbandattheneck，putonhercollar，andshinygoldstonepin，herwhiteapron，andrubherlittleflannelrag，withriceflouronit，onhernosetotakeawaytheshine。Ihadmadeamessofit。
Thereshecamerightinthedoor，justasshewasfromthetub。
Herhairwasdampandcrinkledaroundherface，herneckbandhadbeencloseinstooping，soshehadunfastenedit，andtuckeditbackinalittleV-shapedplacetogiveherroomandair。Hercheekswerepink，hereyesbright，herlipsredasagirl’s，andherneckwassoftandwhite。TheV-shapedplaceshowedalittlespotlikebabyskin，rightwhereherneckwentintoherchest。
Sureasfatherkissedherlips，healwaystippedbackherhead，bentlowerandkissedthatspottoo。Ihadseenhundredsofthemgothere，andIhadtrieditmyself，lotsoftimes，anditWAS
thesweetestplace。SeeingwhatIhaddone，Istoppedbreathless。Youhavetobeatmosteverythingyouteachachildrightintoitproperlytokeepitfrommakingsuchabotchofthingsasthat。Ihardlydaredtopeepatmother，butwhenI
did，shetookmybreathworsethanthemistakeIhadmade。
Caught，shestoodherground。Sheneverpausedasecond。
Straighttohimshewent，holdingoutherhand，andIcouldseethatitwasredandwarmfrompressingthelaceinthehotsuds。
Asomethingflashedoverher，thatmadehermorebeautifulthanshewasinhersilkdressgoingtotowntohelpLucygiveaparty，andhervoicewassweetasthebubblingwarbleronthegardenfencewhenhewastryingtocoaxamateintotheprivetbushtonest。
Motheraskedhimtobeseated，sohetookoneofthechairsnearesthim，andsatholdinghishatinonehand，hiswhipintheother。Motherdrewachairbesidethediningtable，droppedherhandsoneachother，andlookinginhiseyes，shesmiledathim。
Itellthesamethingoveraboutpeople’slooks，butIhaven’ttoldofthissmileofmother’s；becauseIneversawexactlyhowitwas，orwhatitwoulddotopeople，untilthatmorning。ThenasIwatchedher——forhowshefeltdecidedwhatwouldhappentome，afterMr。PryorwasgoneIsawsomethingIneverhadnoticeduntilthatminute。Shecouldlaughalloverherface，beforeherlipsparteduntilherteethshowed。Shewasdoingitnow。Withawidesmilerunningfromcheektocheek，pushingupabigdimpleateachend，herlipsbarelytouching，hereyesdancing，shesatlookingathim。
“ThisISthemostblessedseasonforwarminguptheheart，“shesaid。“Ifyouwantthehalfofmykingdom，askquickly。I’minthemoodtobestowit。“
Howshelaughed！Hejusthadtoloosenupalittle，andsmileback，eventhoughitlookedprettystiff。
“Well，I’llnottaxyousofar，“hesaid。“IonlywantMr。
Stanton。“
“Butheisthewholeofthekingdom，andtheKingtoboot！“shelaughed，dimpled，andflamedredder。
Mr。Pryorstaredatherwonderingly。Youcouldevenseethewonder，likeitwassomethingyoucouldtakeholdof。Isupposehewonderedwhatcouldmakeawomansohappy，likethat。
“Luckyman！“hesaid。“Allofusarenotsofortunate。“
“Thenitmustbeyoudon’tcovettheplaceorthetitle，“saidmothermoresoberly。“Anywomanwillcrownthemanshemarries，ifhewillallowher。Paulwentfarther。Hecompelledit。“
“Iwonderhow！“saidMr。Pryor，hiseyessteadilywatchingmother’sface。
“Byneverfailinginamillionlittlethings，thattakenasawhole，makeuponemightybigthing，onwhichhestandsliketheRockofAges。“
“Yettheytellmethatyouarethemotheroftwelvechildren，“hesaid，asifhemarvelledatsomething。
“Yes！“criedmother，andthewordbrokerightthroughabubblinglaugh。“AmInotfortunateabovemostwomen？Wehadthegrieftolosetwolittledaughtersattheagesofeightandnine，alltheothersIhave，andIrejoiceinthem。“
Shereachedout，laidahandonme，drewmetoher，andlightlytouchedmyarm，sendingmyspiritssky-high。Shewasn’tgoingtodoathingtome，notevenscold！Mr。PryorstaredatherlikeJacobHooddoesatLaddiewhenhebeginsrollingGreekbeforehim，soIguesswhatmothersaidmusthavebeenGreektoMr。
Pryor。
“IcametoseeMr。Stanton，“hesaidsuddenly，andcrosslikeasifhedidn’tbelieveawordshesaid，andhaddecidedshewastoofoolishtobotherwithanylonger；buthekeptonstaring。Hecouldn’tquitthat，nomatterhowcrosshewas。Thefunniestthingcameintomymind。Iwonderedwhatonearthhe’dhavedoneifshe’dgoneover，satonhislap，putherarmsaroundhisneck，tookhisfacebetweenherhandsandkissedhisforehead，eyes，lips，andtousledhishair，likeshedoesfatherandourboys。
I’llbetallIgot，he’dhaveturnedtostonierstonethanSabethany。YoucouldseethatnooneeverservedHIMlikethatinallhisold，cold，hard，cross，mysterious，shut-inlife。I
wascrazytoask，“Say，didanybodyeverkissyou？“butIhadsuchacloseescapebringinghiminwrong，Ithoughtitwouldbewisenottotakeanyriskssosoonafter。Itwasenoughtostandbesidemother，andheareverywordtheysaid。Whatwasmore，shewantedme，becauseshekeptherhandonmine，ortouchedmyaproneverylittlewhile。
“I’msosorry！“shesaid。“Hewascalledtotownonbusiness。
TheCountyCommissionersaresittingto-day。“
“TheyaredecidingabouttheGrovevillebridge，andpike？“
“Yes。Heisworkingsohardforthem。“
“Thedevilyousay！Ibegpardon！ButitwasaboutthatIcame。
I’mthreemilesfromthere，andI’mtaxedoversixtypoundsforit。“
“Butyoucrossthebridgeeverytimeyougototown，andtraveltheroad。Grovevilleisquitearesortonaccountofthewaterandlovelycountry。Paulisveryanxioustohavetheworkcompletedbeforethesummerboarderscomefromsurroundingcities。Weareevenfartherfromitthanyou；butitwillcostusasmuch。“
“Areyouinsane？“criedMr。Pryor，notatallpolitely；butyoucouldseethatmotherwasboundshewouldn’tbecomeprovokedaboutanything，forsheneverstoppedasteadybeamonhim。
“Spendallthatmoneyforstrangerstolazyaroundonafewweeksandthengo！“
“Butagoodbridgeandfineroadwilladdtotheirpleasure，andwhentheyleave，theimprovementsremain。Theywillbenefitusandourchildrenthroughalltheyearstocome。“
“Talkabout`thelandofthefree’！“criedMr。Pryor。“Thisisatax-riddennation。It’sabeastlyoutrage！EversinceIcame，it’sbeennothingbutnoticeofoneassessmentafteranother。I
won’tpayit！Iwon’tendureit。I’llmove！“
Motherletgoofme，grippedherhandsprettytighttogetheronthetable，andshebegantotalk。
“Asforfreedom——nomaneverwas，oris，orwillbefree，“shesaid，quiteasforciblyashecouldspeak。“Youprobablyknewwhenyoucameherethatyouwouldfindalandtax-riddenfromagreatcivilwarofyears’duration，andfromnewnessofvastterritorytobeopenedupandimproved。Youcertainlystudiedthesituation。“
“`Studiedthesituation’！“Hiswhipbeatacrosshisknee。
“`Studiedthesituation’！MyleavingEnglandwas——er——theresultofintolerableconditionsthere——inthenatureofflightfromthingsnottobeendured。IhadonlyavagueideaoftheStates。“
“IfEnglandisintolerable，andtheUnitedStatesanoutrage，I
don’tknowwhereinthisworldyou’llgo，“saidmothersoftly。
Mr。Pryorstaredathersharply。
“Madameispleasedtobefacetious，“hesaidsneeringly。
Mother’shandsparted，andoneofthemstretchedacrossthetabletowardhim。
“Forgiveme！“shecried。“Thatwasunkind。Iknowyouareindreadfultrouble。I’dgive——I’dalmostgivethisrighthandtocomfortyou。I’ddonearlyanythingtomakeyoufeelthatyouneedbearnoburdenalone；thatwe’dlovetohelpsupportyou。“
“Ibelieveyouwould，“hesaidslowly，hiseyeswatchingheragain。“Ibelieveyouwould。Iwonderwhy！“
“Allmenarebrothers，inthebroadersense，“saidmother，“andifyou’llforgiveme，yourfacebearsmarksofsufferingalmostamountingtotorture。“
Shestretchedouttheotherhand。
“Youcouldn’tpossiblyletushelpyou？“
Slowlyheshookhishead。
“Thinkagain！“urgedmother。“Atroublesharedishalfovertostartwith。Youlayapartofitonyourneighbours，andyourneighboursinthiscasewouldbeglad，gladindeed，toseeyoucare-freeandhappyasallmenshouldbe。“
“We’llnotdiscussit，“hesaid。“Youcan’tpossiblyimaginetherootofmytrouble。“
“Ishan’ttry！“saidmother。“Butletmetellyouthis：Idon’tcareifyouhavebetrayedyourcountry，blasphemedyourGod，orkilledyourownchild！Solong，asyou’realivingman，dailyapictureofsufferingbeforeme，you’reaburdenonmyheart。
You’realoadonmyshoulders，withoutyourconsent。IhaveimploredGod，IshallneverceasetoimploreHim，untilyourbrowclears，yourheadislifted，andyourheartisatrest。Youcan’tpreventme！ThishourIshallgotomyclosetandbegHimtohavemercyonyourpoorsoul，andwhenHistimecomes，Hewill。Youcan’thelpyourself，oryouwouldhavedoneso，longago。Youmustacceptaid！Thismustend，ortherewillbetragedyinyourhouse。“
“Madame，therehasbeen！“saidMr。Pryor，shakingashesat。
“Irecognizethat，“saidmother。“Thequestioniswhetherwhathaspassedisnotenough。“
“Yousimplycannotunderstand！“hesaid。
“Mr。Pryor，“shesaid，“you’reinthepositionofamandoublybereft。Youarewithoutacountry，andwithoutaGod。Yourfacetellseverypasser-byhowyouareenjoyingthatkindoflife。
Forgiveme，ifIspeakplainly。Iadmiresomethingsaboutyousomuch，Iamventuringpositiveunkindnesstotrytomakeyouseethatinshuttingoutyourneighboursyouwillsurelymakethemthinkmore，andworsethings，thanaretrue。Ihaven’tadoubtinmymindbutthatyourtroubleisnotonehalfsodreadfulasyouimaginewhilebroodingoverit。Wewillpassthat。Letmetellyouhowwefeelaboutthisroadmatter。YouseewedidourcourtinginPennsylvania，marriedandtriedOhio，andthencameonhere。Wetookthislandwhenitwasmostlywoods。Icouldpointyoutotheexactspotwherewestopped；wevisitedityesterday，lookeddownthehillandselectedtheplacewherewewouldsetthishouse，whenwecouldaffordtobuildit。
Wemovedintothecabinthatwasonthelandfirst，laterbuiltalargerone，andfinallythishomeaswehadplannedit。Everyfruittree，bush，vine，andflowerweplanted。Hereourchildrenhavebeenborn，lived，loved，andleftus；someforthegraveyarddownyonder，someforhomesoftheirown。Alwayswehaveplannedandstriventotransformthisintothedearest，themostbeautifulspotonearth。Inmakingourhomethebestwecan，inimprovingourtownship，county，andstate，wearedoingoursharetowardupbuildingthisnation。“
Shebeganattheabc’s，andgaveittohimstraight：thewholething，justaswesawit；andhelistened，asifhewereaprisoner，andsheajudgetellinghimwhathemustdotogainhisfreedom。Sheputinthebirdstokeepawaytheworms，thetreestobreakthewind，thecreekstosavethemoisture。Shewhangedhim，andshebangedhim，uponeside，anddowntheother。Shedidn’tstoptobemincy。Sheshotthingsathimlikeamantalkingtoanothermanwhohadplentyofsensebutnotaparticleofreason。Shegavehimthereason。Shetoldhimexactlywhy，andhow，andwhere，andalsojustWHAThemustdotofeelRIGHT
towardhisneighbours，hisfamily，andhisGod。Nopreacherevertalkedhalfsowell。Yeaverily，shewasasinterestingastheBishophimself，andfarpleasantertolookat。Whensheranshortofbreath，andoutofwords，shereachedbothhandstowardhimagain。
“OHDOPLEASETHINKOFTHESETHINGS！“shebegged。“DotrytobelievethatIamasensibleperson，andknowwhatIamtalkingabout。“
“Madame，“saidMr。Pryor，“there’snodoubtinmymindbutyouarethemostwonderfulwomanIeverhavemet。SurelyIbelieveyou！SurelyIknowyourplanoflifeisthetrue，theonlyrightway。ItisonedegreeaddedtomyhumiliationthatthebanIamunderkeepsmefromfriendlyintercoursewithsogreatalady。“
“`Lady’？“saidmymother，hereyeswidening。“`Lady’？Nowitisyouwhoareamused。“
“Idon’tunderstand！“hesaid。“Certainlyyouarealady，averygreatlady。“
“Goodness，graciousme！“criedmymother，laughinguntilherdimpleswouldhaveheldwater。“That’sthefirsttimeinallmylifeIwaseveraccusedofsuchathing。“
“Again，Idonotcomprehend，“saidMr。Pryor，asifvexedaboutallhewouldendure。