Pauline came across a soiled, tumbled
envelope. It was the letter which Lemuel had tucked away and forgotten
while he waited for her to 'get mad.'

She opened it eagerly. It was from Richard Everidge.

'I should like to come down and see you,' he wrote, 'in Sleepy Hollow,
that is, if you care to have me, and it is quite convenient. Do not
trouble to write unless you want me. If I do not get an answer I shall
know you do not care.'

Richard Everidge had been married for three years now, and had a little
girl.

She clasped her hands with one quick cry of pain. What must he have
thought of her all these years? Her friend, who had always been so kind!
so kind!

'Pawliney!' called her father, in the querulous accents of one whose
brain is weakening. 'Pawliney, I wish you'd come down and sing a little,
the house is terrible lonesome since mother's gone.'

And Pauline sang, in her full, sweet tones:--

'"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform."'

'God is good, Pawliney?'

'Yes, father.'

'He never makes mistakes?'

'Oh, no, father.'

'You believe that, Pawliney?'

'Yes, yes, I know it, father.'

And her voice rang out triumphantly in another stanza:--

'"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace:
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face."'

_Chapter X_

THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE

'Here's the mortgage money, Pawliney,' said Stephen, as he handed her a
roll of bank-notes. 'It's not due for a month yet, but I'll be away for
a week at the Bend, and if father gets hold of it he'll take it to make
matches of, as like as not. You'd better stow it away somewheres till
the time comes.'

'Very well, Stephen, I'll put it in my strong box, and carry the key in
my pocket. You won't be away at the Bend any longer than you can help,
Stephen? It's such a comfort to have you in the house.'

They were standing by the light waggon, which Lemuel had brought round
from the barn, ready for Stephen's journey.

'Don't know about the comfort part, Pawliney,' said Stephen, with a
queer choke in his voice. 'Seems like as if we all depended on you for
that commodity. But I'll be as quick as I kin. Good-bye, all of you. Git
along, Goliath.'

Three days had passed since his departure, and Pauline stood in the
doorway feasting her eyes on the lights and shadows which grouped
themselves about the distant hills, when Lemuel brushed past he