of his way. He hastened to his new home, the
house of Mr. Pete Jones, the same who believed in the inseparableness of
"lickin' and larnin'."

"You're a purty gal, a'n't you? You're a purty gal, a'n't you? _You_
air! Yes, you _air_" and Mrs. Means seemed so impressed with Hannah's
prettiness that she choked on it, and could get no further. "A purty
gal! you! Yes! you air a mighty purty gal!" and the old woman's voice
rose till it could have been heard half a mile. "To be a-santerin' along
the big road after ten o'clock with the master! Who knows whether he's a
fit man fer anybody to go with? Arter all I've been and gone and done
fer you! That's the way you pay me! Disgrace me! Yes, I say disgrace me!
You're a mean, deceitful thing. Stuck up bekase you spelt the master
down. Ketch _me_ lettin' you got to spellin'-school to-morry night!
Ketch ME! Yes, ketch ME, I say!"

"Looky here, marm," said Bud, "it seems to me you're a-makin' a blamed
furss about nothin'. Don't yell so's they'll hear you three or four
mile. You'll have everybody 'tween here and Clifty waked up." For Mrs.
Means had become so excited over the idea of being caught allowing
Hannah to go to spelling-school that she had raised her last "Ketch
me!" to a perfect whoop.

"That's the way I'm treated," whimpered the old woman, who knew how to
take the "injured innocence" dodge as well as anybody. "That's the way
I'm treated. You allers take sides with that air hussy agin your own
flesh and blood. You don't keer how much trouble I have. Not you. Not a
dog-on'd bit. I may be disgraced by that air ongrateful critter, and you
set right here in my own house and sass me about it. A purty fellow you
air! An' me a-delvin' and a-drudgin' fer you all my born days. A purty
son, a'n't you?"

Bud did not say another word. He sat in the chimney-corner and whistled
"Dandy Jim from Caroline." His diversion had produced the effect he
sought: for while his tender-hearted mother poured her broadside into
his iron-clad feelings, Hannah had slipped up the stairs to her garret
bedroom, and when Mrs. Means turned from the callous Bud to finish her
assault upon the sensitive girl, she could only gnash her teeth in
disappointment.

Stung by the insults to which she could not grow insensible, Hannah lay
awake until the memory of that walk through the darkness came into her
soul like a benediction. The harsh voice of the scold died out, and the
gentle and courteous voice of Hartsoo