efeats, had
been long in secret revolt. It was in no wise a conspiracy, because
they did not care to state their open rebellion, but nevertheless it
was understood that any woman who could not coincide with one of
Martha's contentions was entitled to the support of others in the
small circle. It amounted to an arrangement by which all were required
to disbelieve any theory for which Martha fought. This, however, did
not prevent them from speaking of her mind with profound respect.

Two people bore the brunt of her ability. Her sister Kate was visibly
afraid of her, while Carrie Dungen sailed across from her kitchen to
sit respectfully at Martha's feet and learn the business of the world.
To be sure, afterwards, under another sun, she always laughed at
Martha and pretended to deride her ideas, but in the presence of the
sovereign she always remained silent or admiring. Kate, the sister,
was of no consequence at all. Her principal delusion was that she did
all the work in the up-stairs rooms of the house, while Martha did it
down-stairs. The truth was seen only by the husband, who treated
Martha with a kindness that was half banter, half deference. Martha
herself had no suspicion that she was the only pillar of the domestic
edifice. The situation was without definitions. Martha made
definitions, but she devoted them entirely to the Armenians and
Griscom and the Chinese and other subjects. Her dreams, which in early
days had been of love of meadows and the shade of trees, of the face
of a man, were now involved otherwise, and they were companioned in
the kitchen curiously, Cuba, the hot-water kettle, Armenia, the
washing of the dishes, and the whole thing being jumbled. In regard to
social misdemeanors, she who was simply the mausoleum of a dead
passion was probably the most savage critic in town. This unknown
woman, hidden in a kitchen as in a well, was sure to have a
considerable effect of the one kind or the other in the life of the
town. Every time it moved a yard, she had personally contributed an
inch. She could hammer so stoutly upon the door of a proposition that
it would break from its hinges and fall upon her, but at any rate it
moved. She was an engine, and the fact that she did not know that she
was an engine contributed largely to the effect. One reason that she
was formidable was that she did not even imagine that she was
formidable. She remained a weak, innocent, and pig-headed creature,
who alone would def