icion that he could forget penetrated Araminta's consciousness.
It had been pleasant to have Doctor Ralph sit there and wash her face,
talking to her meanwhile, even though he was a man, and men were
poison. Like a strong, sure bond between them, Araminta felt their
common disgrace.

"His mother was married," she thought, drowsily, "and so was mine.
Neither of them knew any better. Oh, Lord," prayed Araminta, with
renewed vigour, "keep me from the contamination of marriage, for Thy
sake. Amen."

XI

The Loose Link

Seated primly on a chair in Miss Evelina's kitchen, Miss Mehitable gave
a full account of her sentiments toward Doctor Ralph Dexter. She began
with his birth and remarked that he was a puny infant, and, for a time,
it was feared that he was "light headed."

"He got his senses after a while, though," she continued, grudgingly,
"that is, such as they are."

She proceeded through his school-days, repeated unflattering opinions
which his teachers had expressed to her, gave an elaborate description
of the conflict that ensued when she caught him stealing green apples
from her incipient, though highly promising, orchard, alluded darkly to
his tendency to fight with his schoolmates, suggested that certain
thefts of chickens ten years and more ago could, if the truth were
known, safely be attributed to Ralph Dexter, and speculated upon the
trials and tribulations a scapegrace son might cause an upright and
respected father.

All the dead and buried crimes of the small boys of the village were
excavated from the past and charged to Ralph Dexter. Miss Mehitable
brought the record fully up to the time he left Rushton for college,
having been prepared for entrance by his father. Then she began with
Araminta.

First upon the schedule were Miss Mehitable's painful emotions when
Barbara Smith had married Henry Lee. She croaked anew all her
raven-like prophecies of misfortune which had added excitement to the
wedding, and brought forth the birth of Araminta in full proof. Full
details of Barbara's death were given, and the highly magnified events
which had led to her adoption of the child. Condescending for a moment
to speak of the domestic virtues, Miss Mehitable explained, with proper
pride, how she had "brought up" Araminta. The child had been kept
close at the side of her guardian angel, never had been to school, had
been carefully taught at home, had not been allowed to play with other
childr