XIII。
Jeffcameintotheuglyoldfamilyparlor，wherehismothersatmendingbythekerosene—lampwhichshehadkeptthroughallthehouseholdchanges，andpushedenoughofherworkasidefromthecornerofthetabletoresthisarmuponit。
\"Mother，Iwantyoutolistentome，andtowaittillIgetdone。Willyou？\"
Shelookedupathimoverherspectaclesfromthestockingshewasdarning；thechinaegggleamedthroughthefrayedplace。\"Whatnotionhaveyougotinyourhead，now？\"
\"It’saboutJackson。Heisn’twell。He’sgottoleaveoffworkandgoaway。\"
Themother’shanddroppedattheendoftheyarnshehaddrawnthroughthestockingheel，andshestaredatJeff。Thensheresumedherworkwiththedecisionexpressedinhertone。\"Yourfatherlivedtobesixtyyearsold，andJacksona’n’tforty！Thedoctorsaidtherewa’n’tanyreasonwhyheshouldn’tliveaslongashisfatherdid。\"
\"I’mnotsayinghewon’tlivetoahundred。I’msayingheoughtn’ttostayanotherwinterhere，\"Jeffsaid，decisively。
Mrs。Durginwassilentforatime，andthenshesaid。\"Jeff，isthatyournotionaboutJackson，orwhoseisit？\"
\"It’smine，now。\"
Mrs，Durginwaitedamoment。Thenshebegan，withafeelingquiteatvariancewithherwords：
\"Well，I’llthankCynthyWhit’elltomindherownbusiness！Ofcourse，\"
sheadded，andinwhatfollowedherfeelingworkedtothesurfaceinherwords，\"Iknow’tshethinkstheworldofJackson，andhedoesofher；
andIpresumeshemeanswell。Iguessshe’dbemoreapttonotice，iftherewasanychange，thanwhatIshould。Whatdidshesay？\"
Jefftold，asnearlyashecouldremember，andhetoldwhatCynthiaandhehadafterwardjointlyworkedoutastothebestthingforJacksontodo。Mrs。Durginlistenedfrowningly，butnotdisapprovingly，asitseemed；thoughattheendsheasked：\"AndwhatamIgoingtodo，withJacksongone？\"
Jefflaughed，withhisheaddown。\"Well，IguessyouandCynthycouldrunit，withFrankandMr。Whitwell。\"
\"Mr。Whit’ell！\"saidMrs。Durgin，concentratinginheraccentofhisnamethecontemptshecouldnotjustlypouroutontheothers。
\"Oh，\"Jeffwenton，\"IdidthinkthatIcouldtakeholdwithyou，ifyoucouldbringyourselftoletmeoffthislastyearatHarvard。\"
\"Jeff！\"saidhismother，reproachfully。\"Youknowyoudon’tmeanthatyou’dgiveupyourlastyearincollege？\"
\"Idomeanit，butIdon’texpectyoutodoit；andIdon’taskit。I
suggestedittoCynthy，whenwegottotalkingitover，andshesawitwouldn’tdo。\"
\"Well，sheshowedsomesensethattime，\"Mrs。Durginsaid。
\"Idon’tknowwhenCynthyhasn’tshownsense；exceptonce，andthenI
guessitwasmyfault。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Why，thisafternoonIaskedhertomarrymesometime，andshesaidshewould。\"Helookedathismotherandlaughed，andthenhedidnotlaugh。
Hehadexpectedhertobepleased；hehadthoughttopavethewaywiththisconfessionforthedeclarationofhisintentionnottostudylaw，andtomakehisengagementtoCynthiaservehiminreconcilinghismothertotheotherfact。Butamenacingsuspensefollowedhiswords。
Hismotherbrokeoutatlast：\"YouaskedCynthyWhit’elltomarryyou！
Andshesaidshewould！Well，Icantellhershewon’t，then！\"
\"AndIcantellyoushewill！\"Jeffstormedback。Herosetohisfeetandstoodoverhismother。
Shebegansteadily，asifhehadnotspoken。\"Ifthatdesignin’——\"
\"Lookout，mother！Don’tyousayanythingagainstCynthia！She’sbeenthebestgirltoyouintheworld，andyouknowit。She’sbeenastruetoyouasJacksonhashimself。Shehasn’tgotaselfishboneinherbody，andshe’ssohonestshecouldn’tdesignanythingagainstyouoranyone，unlessshetoldyoufirst。Nowyoutakethatback！Takeitback！
She’snomoredesigningthan——thanyouare！\"
Mrs。Durginwasnotmovedbyhisstorming，butshewasinwardlyconvincedoferror。\"Idotakeitback。Cynthyisallright。She’sallyousayandmore。It’syourfault，then，andyou’vegotyourselftothank，forwhoseverfaultitis，she’llpack——\"
\"IfCynthypacks，Ipack！\"saidJeff。\"Understandthat。ThemomentsheleavesthishouseIleaveit，too，andI’llmarryheranyway。Frank’dleaveand——and——Pshaw！Whatdoyoucareforthat？ButIdon’tknowwhatyoumean！IalwaysthoughtyoulikedCynthyandrespectedher。Ididn’tbelieveIcouldtellyouathingthatwouldpleaseyoubetterthanthatshehadsaidshewouldhaveme。Butifitdon’t，allright。\"
Mrs。Durginheldherpeaceinbewilderment；shestaredathersonwithdazedeyes，underthespectaclesliftedaboveherforehead。Shefeltachangeofmoodinhisunchangedtoneofdefiance，andshemethimhalf—
way。\"ItellyouItakebackwhatIcalledCynthia，andItoldyouso。
But——butIdidn’teverexpectyoutomarryher。\"
\"Whydidn’tyou？Thereisn’toneofthesummerfolkstocomparewithher。She’sgotmoresensethanallof’em。I’veknownhereversinceI
canremember。Whydidn’tyouexpectit？\"
\"Ididn’texpectit。\"
\"Oh，Iknow！YouthoughtI’dseesomebodyinBoston——someswellgirl。
Well，theywouldn’tanyofthemlookatme，andiftheywould，theywouldn’tlookatyou。\"
\"Ishouldn’tcarewhethertheylookedatmeornot。\"
\"Itellyoutheywouldn’tlookatme。Youdon’tunderstandaboutthesethings，andIdo。Theymarrytheirownkind，andI’mnottheirkind，andIshouldn’tbeifIwasDanielWebsterhimself。DanielWebster！
Whoremembershim，orcaresforhim，oreverdid？Youdon’tbelieveit？
YouthinkthatbecauseI’vebeenatHarvard——Oh，can’tImakeyouseeit？
I’mwhattheycallajayinHarvard，andHarvarddon’tcountifyou’reajay。\"
Hismotherlookedathimwithoutspeaking。Shewouldnotconfesstheambitionhetaxedherwith，andperhapsshehadnothingsodefiniteinhermind。Perhapsitwasonlyherprideinhim，andherfaithinasplendidfutureforhim，thatmadeheraversetohismarriageinthelotshehadalwaysknown，andonalittlelowerlevelinitthatherown。
Shesaidatlast：
\"Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbybeingajay。ButIguesswebetternotsayanythingmoreaboutthisto—night。\"
\"Allright，\"Jeffreturned。Thereneverwereanyformalgood—nightsbetweentheDurgins，andhewentawaynowwithoutfurtherwords。
Hismotherremainedsittingwherehelefther。Twoorthreetimesshedrewheremptydarning—needlethroughtheheelofthestockingshewasmending。
ShewasstillsittingtherewhenJacksonpassedonhiswaytobed，afterleavingtheofficeinchargeofthenightporter。Hefaltered，ashewentby，andashestoodonthethresholdshetoldhimwhatJeffhadtoldher。
\"That’sgood，\"hesaid，lifelessly。\"GoodforJeff，\"headded，thoughtfully，conscientiously。
\"Whya’n’titgoodforher，too？\"demandedJeff’smother，inquickresentmentoftheslightputuponhim。
\"Ididn’tsayitwa’n’t，\"saidJackson。\"Butit’sbetterforJeff。\"
\"Shemaybeverygladtogethim！\"
\"Ipresumesheis。She’salwayscaredforhim，Iguess。She’llknowhowtomanagehim。\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidMrs。Durgin，\"asIliketohaveyoutalkso，aboutJeff。Hewashere，justnow，wantin’togiveuphislastyearinHarvard，so’stoletyougooffonavacation。Hethinksyou’veworkedyourselfdown。\"
JacksonmadenorecognitionofJeff’sprofessedself—sacrifice。\"Idon’twantanyvacation。I’mfeelingfirst—ratenow。IguessthatstuffIhadfromthewritin’mediumhasbeguntotakeholdofme。Idon’tknowwhenI’vefeltsowell。IbelieveI’mgoingtogetstrongerthaneverIwas。
JeffsayIneededarest？\"
Somethinglikeasmileofcompassionforthedelusionofhisbrotherdawneduponthesickman’swastedface，whichwasblotchedwithlargefreckles，andstaredwithdim，largeeyesfromoutaframeworkofgrayishhair，andgrayishbeardcuttotheedgesofthecheeksandchin。
XXIV。
Mrs。DurginandCynthiadidnotseekanyformalmeetingthenextmorning。
Thecourseoftheirworkbroughtthemtogether，butitwasnottillaftertheyhadtransactedseveralhouseholdaffairsofpressingimportancethatMrs。Durginasked：\"What’sthisaboutyouandJeff？\"
\"Hashebeentellingyou？\"askedCynthia，inherturn，thoughsheknewhehad。
\"Yes，\"saidMrs。Durgin，withacertaindryness，whichwashalfhumorous。
\"Ipresume，ifyoutwoaresatisfied，it’sallright。\"
\"Iguesswe’resatisfied，\"saidthegirl，withatremorofreliefwhichshetriedtohide。
Nothingmorewassaid，andtherewasnophysicaldemonstrationofaffectionorrejoicingbetweenthewomen。Theyknewthatthetimewouldcomewhentheywouldtalkovertheaffairdowntothebonetogether，butnowtheywerecontenttorecognizethefact，andletthetimefortalkingarrivewhenitwould。\"Iguess，\"saidMrs。Durgin，\"you’dbettergoovertothehelps’houseandseehowthatyoungestMillergirl’sgittin’
along。She’doughttogiveupandgohomeifshea’n’tfitforherwork。\"
\"I’llgoandseeher，\"saidCynthia。\"Idon’tbelieveshe’sstrongenoughforawaitress，andIhavegottotellherso。\"
\"Well，\"returnedMrs。Durgin，glumly，afteramoment’sreflection，\"Ishouldn’twantyoushouldhurryher。Waittillshe’soutofbed，andgiveheranotherchance。\"
\"Allright。\"
Jeffhadbeenlurkingaboutfortheeventoftheinterview，andhewaylaidCynthiaonthepathtothehelps’house。
\"I’mgoingovertoseethatyoungestMillergirl，\"sheexplained。
\"Yes，Iknowallaboutthat，\"saidJeff。\"Well，mothertookitjustright，didn’tshe？Youcan’talwayscountonher；butIhadn’tmuchanxietyinthiscase。Shelikesyou，Cynthia。\"
\"Iguessso，\"saidthegirl，demurely；andshelookedawayfromhimtosmileherpleasureinthefact。
\"ButIbelieveifshehadn’tknownyouwerewithheraboutmylastyearinHarvard——itwouldhavebeendifferent。Icouldsee，whenIbroughtitinthatyouwantedmetogoback，hermindwasmadeupforyou。\"
\"Whyneedyousayanythingaboutthat？\"
\"Oh，Iknewitwouldclinchher。Iunderstandmother。Ifyouwantsomethingfromheryoumustn’taskitstraightout。Youmustproposesomethingverydisagreeable。Thenwhensherefusesthat，youcancomeinforwhatyouwerereallyafterandgetit。\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidCynthia，\"asIshouldliketothinkthatyourmotherhadbeentrickedintofeelingrightaboutme。\"
\"Tricked！\"ThecolorflashedupinJeff’sface。
\"Notthat，Jeff，\"saidthegirl，tenderly。\"ButyouknowwhatImean。
Ihopeyoutalkeditalloutfullywithher。\"
\"Fully？Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。\"
\"Aboutyournotstudyinglaw，and——everything。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveincrossingarivertillIcometoit，\"saidJeff。
\"Ididn’tsayanythingtoheraboutthat。\"
\"Youdidn’t！\"
\"No。Whathaditgottodowithourbeingengaged？\"
\"WhathadyourgoingbacktoHarvardtodowithit？IfyourmotherthinksI’mwithherinthat，she’llthinkI’mwithherintheother。
AndI’mnot。I’mwithyou。\"Sheletherhandfindhis，astheywalkedsidebyside，andgaveitalittlepressure。
\"It’sthegreatestthing，Cynthy，\"hesaid，breathlessly，\"tohaveyouwithmeinthat。But，ifyousaidIoughttostudylaw，Ishoulddoit。\"
\"Ishouldn’tsaythat，forIbelieveyou’reright；butevenifIbelievedyouwerewrong，Ishouldn’tsayit。Youhavearighttomakeyourlifewhatyouwantit；andyourmotherhasn’t。Onlyshemustknowit，andyoumusttellheratonce。\"
\"Atonce？\"
\"Yes——now。Whatgoodwillitdotoputitoff？You’renotafraidtotellher！\"
\"Idon’tlikeyoutousethatword。\"
\"AndIdon’tliketouseit。ButIknowhowitis。You’reafraidthatthebruntofitwillcomeonME。She’llthinkyou’reallright，butI’mallwrongbecauseIagreewithyou。\"
\"Somethinglikethat。\"
\"Well，now，I’mnotafraidofanythingshecansay；andwhatcouldshedo？Shecan’tpartus，unlessyoulether，andthenIshouldlether，too。\"
\"Butwhat’sthehurry？What’stheneedofdoingitrightoff？\"
\"Becauseit’sadeceitnottodoit。It’salie！\"
\"Idon’tseeitinthatlight。Imightchangemymind，andstillgoonandstudylaw。\"
\"Youknowyouneverwill。Now，Jeff！Whydoyouactso？\"
Jeffdidnotansweratonce。Hewalkedbesideherwithafaceoftroublethatbecameoneofresolveinthesetjaws。\"Iguessyou’reright，Cynthy。She’sgottoknowtheworst，andthesoonersheknowsitthebetter。\"
\"Yes！\"
Hehadanothermomentoffaltering。\"Youdon’twantIshouldtalkitoverwithMr。Westover？\"
\"Whathashegottodowithit？\"
\"That’strue！\"
\"Ifyouwanttoseeitintherightlight，youcanthinkyou’veletitrunontillafteryou’reoutofcollege，andthenyou’vegottotellher。
Supposesheaskedyouhowlongyouhadmadeupyourmindagainstthelaw，howshouldyoufeel？AndifsheaskedmewhetherI’dknownitallalong，andIhadtosayIhad，andthatI’dsupportedandencouragedyouinit，howshouldIfeel？\"
\"Shemightn’taskanysuchquestion，\"saidJeff，gloomily。Cynthiagavealittleimpatient\"Oh！\"andhehastenedtoadd：\"Butyou’reright；I’vegottotellher。I’lltellherto—night——\"
\"Don’twaittillto—night；doitnow。\"
\"Now？\"
\"Yes；andI’llgowithyouassoonasI’veseentheyoungestMillergirl。\"Theyhadreachedthehelps’housenow，andCynthiasaid：\"Youwaitoutsidehere，andI’llgorightbackwithyou。Oh，Ihopeitisn’tdoingwrongtoputitofftillI’veseenthatgirl！\"Shedisappearedthroughthedoor，andJeffwaitedbythestepsoutside，pluckinguponelonggrassstemafteranotherandbitingitintwo。WhenCynthiacameoutshesaid：\"Iguessshe’llbeallright。Nowcome，anddon’t—loseanothersecond。\"
\"You’reafraidIsha’n’tdoitifIwaitanylonger！\"
\"I’mafraidIsha’n’t。\"Therewasasilenceafterthis。
\"DoyouknowwhatIthinkofyou，Cynthy？\"askedJeff，hurryingtokeepupwithherquicksteps。\"You’vegotmorecourage——\"
\"Oh，don’tpraiseme，orIshallbreakdown！\"
\"I’llseethatyoudon’tbreakdown，\"saidJeff，tenderly。\"It’sthegreatestthingtohaveyougowithme！\"
\"Why，don’tyouSEE？\"shelamented。\"Ifyouwentalone，andtoldyourmotherthatIapprovedofit，youwouldlookasifyouwereafraid，andwantedtogetbehindme；andI’mnotgoingtohavethat。\"
Theyfound。Mrs。Durgininthedarkentryoftheoldfarmhouse，andCynthiasaid，withinvoluntaryimperiousness：\"Comeinhere，Mrs。Durgin；
Iwanttotellyousomething。\"
Sheledthewaytotheoldparlor，andshecheckedMrs。Durgin’squestion，\"HasthatMillergirl——\"
\"Itisn’tabouther，\"saidCynthy，pushingthedoorto。\"It’saboutmeandJeff。\"
Mrs。DurginbecameawareofJeff’spresencewithaneffectofsurprise。
\"Therea’n’tanythingmore，isthere？\"
\"Yes，thereis！\"Cynthiashrilled。\"Now，Jeff！\"
\"It’sjustthis，mother：CynthythinksIoughttotellyou——andshethinksIoughttohavetoldyoulastnight——sheexpectedmeto——thatI’mnotgoingtostudylaw。\"
\"AndIapproveofhisnotdoingit，\"Cynthiapromptlyfollowed，andsheputherselfbesideJeffwherehestoodinfrontofhismother’srocking—
chair。
Shelookedfromonetotheotherofthefacesbeforeher。\"I’msorryasonofmine，\"shesaid，withdignity，\"hadtobetoldhowtoactwithhismother。But，ifhehad，Idon’tknowasanybodyhadabetterrighttodoitthanthegirlthat’sgoingtomarryhim。AndI’llsaythis，CynthiaWhitwell，beforeIsayanythingelse：you’vebegunright。IwishIcouldsayJeffhad。\"
TherewasanuncomfortablemomentbeforeCynthiasaid：\"Heexpectedtotellyou。\"
\"OhYes！Iknow，\"saidhismother，sadly。Sheadded，sharply：\"Anddidbeexpecttotellmewhatheintendedtodoforalivin’？\"
\"Jefftooktheword。\"Yes，Idid。Iintendtokeepahotel。\"
\"Whathotel？\"askedMrs。Durgin，withatouchoftauntinginhertone。
\"Thisone。\"
Themotherofthebold，rebelliousboythatJeffhadbeenstirredinMrs。
Durgin’sheart，andshelookedathimwiththeeyes，thatusedtocondonehismischief。Butshesaid：\"Iguessyou’llfindoutthatthere’smorethanonehastoagreetothat。\"
\"Yes，therearetwo：youandJackson；andIdon’tknowbutwhatthree，ifyoucountCynthy，here。\"
Hismotherturnedtothegirl。\"Youthinkthisfellow’sgotsenseenoughtokeepahotel？\"
\"Yes，Mrs。Durgin，Ido。Ithinkhe’sgotgoodideasaboutahotel。\"
\"Andwhat’shegoin’todowithhiscollegeeducation？\"
Jeffinterposed。\"Youthinkthatallthecollegegraduatesturnoutlawyersanddoctorsandprofessors？Someof’emaremightygladtosweepoutbanksinhopesofaclerkship；andsometakeanysortofaplaceinamillorabusinesshouse，toworkup；andsomebumroundoutWest’oncattleranches；andsome，ifthey’relucky，getnewspaperreporters’
placesattendollarsaweek。\"
Cynthiafollowedwiththegeneralization：\"Idon’tbelieveanybodycanknowtoomuchtokeepahotel。Itwon’thurtJeffifhe’sbeentoHarvard，ortoEurope，either。\"
\"Iguessthere’sapairofyou，\"saidMrs。Durgin，withsuperficialcontempt。Shewassilentforatime，andtheywaited。\"Well，there！\"
shebrokeoutagain。\"I’vegotsomethingtochewuponforaspell，I
guess。Goalong，now，bothofyou！Andthenexttimeyou’vegottofaceyourmother，Jeff，don’tyoucomeinlookin’roundanybody’spetticoats！
I’llseeyoulateraboutallthis。\"
Theywentawaywiththejoyfulshameofchildrenwhohaveescapedpunishment。
\"That’sthelastofit，Cynthy，\"saidJeff。
\"Iguessso，\"thegirlassented，withacertaingriefinhervoice。
\"Iwishyouhadtoldherfirst！\"
\"Oh，nevermindthatnow！\"criedJeff，andinthedimpassagewayhetookherinhisarmsandkissedher。
Hewouldhavereleasedher，butshelingeredinhisembrace。\"Willyoupromisethatifthere’severanythinglikeitagain，youwon’twaitformetomakeyou？\"
\"Ilikeyourhavingmademe，butIpromise，\"hesaid。
Thenshetightenedherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。
XXV。
ThewillofJeff’smotherrelaxeditsgripuponthepurposesolongheld，asifthemerestrainofthetenacityhadweariedandweakenedit。Whenitfinallyappearedthatherambitionforhersonwasnothisambitionforhimselfandwouldneverbe，sheabandonedit。Perhapsitwastheeasierforhertoforegoherhopesofhisdistinctionintheworld，becauseshehadlearnedbeforethatshemustforegoherhopesofhiminotherways。ShehadvaguelyfanciedthatwiththeacquaintancehiscareeratHarvardwouldopentohimJeffwouldmakeasplendidmarriage。
Shehadfolloweddarklingandstumblinghiscourseinsocietyasfarashewouldreportittoher，andwhenhewouldnotsufferhertogloryinit，shebelievedthathewasforbiddingherfromapridethatwouldnotrecognizeanythingoutofthecommoninit。Sheexultedinhispride，andshetookallhissnubbingreservestenderly，assomanyproofsofhissuccess。
Atthebottomofherheartshehadbothfearandcontemptofalltowns—
people，whomshegeneralizedfromherexperienceofthemassummerfolksofagreaterorlessersilliness。Sheoftenfoundherselfunabletocopewiththem，evenwhenshefeltthatshehadtwicetheirsense；sheperceivedthattheyhadsomethingfromtheirtrainingthatwithallherundisciplinedforceshecouldneverhopetowinfromherownenvironment。
Butshebelievedthathersonwouldhavetheadvantageswhichbaffledherinthem，forhewouldhavetheirenvironment；andshehadwishedhimtorivethisholduponthoseadvantagesbytakingawifefromamongthem，andbylivingthelifeoftheirworld。Herwishes，ofcourse，hadnosuchdistinctformulation，andthefeelingshehadtowardCynthiaasapossiblebarriertoherambitionhadnomoredefinition。TherehadbeentimeswhenthefitnessofhermarriagewithJeffhadmovedthemother’shearttoajealousythatshealwayskeptsilent，whileshehopedfortheaccidentortheprovidencewhichshouldannulthedanger。ButGenevieveVostrandhadnotbeenthekindofaccidentortheprovidencethatshewouldhaveinvoked，andwhenshesawJeff’sfancyturningtowardher，Mrs。DurginhadveeredroundtoCynthia。AllthesameshekeptakeeneyeupontheyoungladiesamongthesummerfolkswhocametoLion’sHead，andtacitlycanvassedtheirmeritsandinclinationswithrespecttoJeffintheoften—imaginedeventofhiscaringforanyoneofthem。Shefoundthatherartfullycasualreferencestoherson’sbeinginHarvardscarcelyaffectedtheirmothersintherightway。Thefactmadethemthinkoftheheadwaiterswhomtheyhadmetatotherhotels，andwhowereworkingtheirwaythroughDartmouthorWilliamsorYale，anditrequiredalltheforceofJeff’srobustpersonalitytodissipatetheirerroneousimpressionsofhim。Hetooktheirdaughtersoutoftheirarmsandfromundertheirnosesonlongdrivesuponhisbuckboard，anditbecameaconventionwiththemtotreathisattentionssomewhatlikethoseofapowerfulbutfaithfulvassal。
Whetherhewasindifferent，orwhethertheyoungladieswerecoy，noneoftheseofficialflirtationscametoanything。Heseemednottocareforonemorethananother；helaughedandjokedwiththemall，andhadanofficialmannerwitheachwhichservedsomewhatlikeadisparityofyearsinputtingthemattheireasewithhim。Theyagreedthathewasveryhandsome，andsomethoughthimverytalented；buttheyquestionedwhetherhewasquitewhatyouwouldcallagentleman。Itistruethatthismisgivingattackedthemmostlyinthemass；singly，theywerelittleornotatalltroubledbyit，andtheyseverallybehavedinanunprincipledindifferencetoit。
Mrs。Durginhadthecourageofherownpurposes，butshehadthefearofJeff’s。AfterthefirstpangofthedisappointmentwhichtookfinalshapefromhisdeclarationthathewasgoingtomarryCynthia，shedidnotreallycaremuch。Shehadthehabitofthegirl；sherespectedher，sheevenlovedher。Thechildren，asshethoughtofthem，hadknowneachotherfromtheirearliestdays；JeffhadpersecutedCynthiathroughouthisgracelessboyhood，buthehadneverintimidatedher；andhismother，withallherweaknessforhim，feltthatitwaswellforhimthathiswifeshouldbebraveenoughtostandupagainsthim。