't you come out an' take some of these bundles? Why ain't you
goin' out an' puttin' the horse up instead of standin' there
starin'?"

"I'm goin' right off, mother," Caleb answered, apologetically; and he
turned his old back towards her and scuffled out in haste.

"Put on your cap!" Deborah called after him.

She laid off her many wraps, her hood and veil, and mufflers and
shawls, folded them carefully, and carried them into her bedroom, to
be laid in her bureau drawers. Deborah was very orderly and
methodical.

"Did you take your medicine?" she asked Ephraim as she went out of
the room.

"Yes, ma'am," said he. He did not feel nearly as well; he kept his
face turned from his mother. Ephraim was accustomed to complain
freely, but now the coasting and the mince-pie had made him patient.
He was quite sure that his bad feelings were due to that, and suppose
his mother should suspect and ask him what he had been doing! He was
also terrified by the thought of the holly-gull and her unfulfilled
order about the apple-paring. He sat very still; his heart shook his
whole body, which had grown thin lately. He looked very small, in
spite of his sturdy build.

Deborah was gone quite a while; she had left some work unfinished in
her bedroom that morning. Caleb returned before she did, and pulled
up a chair close to the fire. He was holding his reddened fingers out
towards the blaze to warm them when Deborah came in.

She looked at him, then around the room, inquiringly.

"Where did you put the apples?" said she to Caleb.

Caleb stared around at her. "What apples, mother?" he asked, feebly.

"The apples I left for you to pare. I want to put 'em on before I get
dinner."

"I ain't heard nothin' about apples, mother."

"Ain't you pared any apples this forenoon?"

"I didn't know as you wanted any pared, mother."

Deborah turned fiercely on Ephraim.

"Ephraim Thayer, look here!" said she. Ephraim turned his poor blue
face slowly; his breath came shortly between his parted lips; he
clapped one hand to his side. "Didn't you tell your father to pare
them apples, the way I told you to?" she demanded.

Ephraim dropped his chin lower.

"Answer me!"

"No, ma'am."

"What have you been a-doin' of?"

"Playin'."

"Playin' what?"

"Holly-gull."

Deborah stood quite still for a moment. Her mouth tightened; she grew
quite pale. Ephraim and Caleb watched her. Deborah strode across the
room, out into the shed.

"I guess s