could see Richard Everidge, she would tell him that she
did believe in altitudes now. It was possible even in the valleys to
live above the clouds. 'Do not seek happiness,' Tryphosa had said, 'but
harmony with God's will,' and God's will for her was Sleepy Hollow. 'It
is not what we do, but what we are, dear child,' she seemed to hear her
saying. She remembered reading that 'the smallest roadside pool has its
water from heaven, and its gleam from the sun, and can hold the stars in
its bosom, as well as the great ocean.' God could make a 'perfect
Christian' even in Sleepy Hollow.

'I'm powerful glad ye've cum, Pawliney,' said Martha Spriggs, as she
followed her into the dairy after the meal was over. 'I'm that beset I
dunno where I'm standin', for Miss Hardin's been as crooked as a snake
fence, an' as contrairy as a yearlin' colt, an' the childern dew train
awful.'

'Yer've got to tell me stories all night, miles of 'em,' said Lemuel, as
he bestowed his small person on the floor, with his legs in the air.

'No, no, Lemuel, you're going right to bed, like a good little brother,
so Polly can get to sleep. Poor Polly is so tired,' and Pauline walked
up and down the floor of her tiny room trying to soothe the weary child.

'Hi! Poll's no 'count; she's only a gurl. I ain't goin' ter sleep
nuther. I'm goin' ter stay up fer hours an' hours, an' if yer don't keep
right on tellin' stories quick, I'll holler, an' that'll make mar mad,
an' then she'll send par up with a stick ter beat me. I don't care, he
don't hit ez hard as she duz, anyhow.'

'If you'll get undressed right away, Lemuel, I'll tell you about a
little boy who lived with an' old, old man, and one night he couldn't
sleep, but----'

'Huh! that's a Bible story. This ain't Sunday. Par never reads the Bible
'cept Sunday. I want 'em 'bout lions an' tigers, an' men tumblin' down
mountains, and boys gettin' eaten by bears.'

'What did you do when I was away, Lemuel?'

His lower lip protruded ominously.

'Ain't had nuthin'. Martha Spriggs don't hev any. She only knows "the
cow that jumped over the moon," an' that's no good: 'tain't true,
nuther, fer our cows don't do it.'

No time the next morning for the long hours of delightful study. It was
churning day, and there was baking to be done, and the mending was
behindhand, and the children needed clothes; besides the numerous 'odd
jobs' which Mrs Harding had deferred, but which she was prompt to
require done as soo