indow so as to be seen.

"Here is father; he will be glad to see you; it is a long time since you
were here. Won't you change your mind and come in?"

"Well, no, not to-day. I am going in to see Miss Ball a minute about my
bonnet, and I ought to hurry home."

Mrs Jacob knew that she would have to answer many questions about Jacob
and the children. Probably the squire had seen them all to-day already,
and would see them all again before the day was over.

"I think I'll go, and not hinder him about the fence, since he doesn't
know I am here. Why don't you come up sometimes? Well, good-bye; I
guess I'll go."

"Good-bye," said Elizabeth. "And now when she finds out that Mr
Maxwell was here all the time, though I was standing at the gate, she
will make herself and Jacob, too, believe that I am a deceitful girl;
though why I should tell her, since she did not ask, I do not quite
see."

She took the nail-box from her father's hand and followed him out of the
gate, giving him each nail as he wanted it, making suggestions and
praising his work as one might do with a child. It was soon finished to
the old man's satisfaction, and by that time his excitement and his
troubled thoughts were gone, and he was ready for his afternoon's rest.

"You have something to say to me, Miss Holt," said the minister, when
she came again into the sitting-room.

"No--I am not sure that I have, though a little ago I thought I had."

"But, Miss Holt, I am almost sure you must have something to say," said
Mr Maxwell, after a pause. "I have sometimes found that I have got a
clearer view of vexed questions in village politics, and even in church
matters, where there are no vexations as yet, after a little talk with
you, than after many and long talks with other people."

Elizabeth laughed.

"Thank you. The reason is, that all the rest are on one side or the
other of all vexed questions, and not being specially concerned in them,
at least not personally concerned in them, I can see all sides: and
usually there is little to see that might not as well be ignored."

"Well, does not that hold good in this case also?"

"But in this case I may be supposed to take a side."

The minister smiled.

"But not so as to prevent you from seeing clearly all sides. You are
not going to tire of the task of keeping me right in village matters?"

Even when the sunshine is bright above the March air is keen and cold,
and so Elizabeth, chilled with