ane, she's
never a bit of trouble. Sit down, sir, and make yourself to home while
I get our things together and put on my bonnet;" and she was about to
hasten from the room.

She, too, had been compelled to see that Holcroft's farmhouse was the
only certain refuge left, and while she had rocked and waited the
thought had come into her scheming mind, "I've stipulated to stay a
year, and if he says nothing against it, it's a bargain which I can
manage to keep him to in spite of himself, even if I don't marry him."

But the straightforward farmer was not to be caught in such a trap. He
had come himself to say certain words and he would say them. He
quietly, therefore, stood in the door and said, "Wait a moment, Mrs.
Mumpson. It's best to have a plain understanding in all matters of
business. When I've done, you may conclude not to go with me, for I
want to say to you what I said this morning to your cousin, Lemuel
Weeks. I'm glad he and his wife are now present, as witnesses. I'm a
plain man, and all I want is to make a livin' off the farm I've been
brought up on. I'll get a girl to help you with the work. Between
you, I'll expect it to be done in a way that the dairy will yield a
fair profit. We'll try and see how we get on for three months and not
a year. I'll not bind myself longer than three months. Of course, if
you manage well, I'll be glad to have this plain business arrangement
go on as long as possible, but it's all a matter of business. If I
can't make my farm pay, I'm going to sell or rent and leave these
parts."

"Oh, certainly, certainly, Mr. Holcroft! You take a very senserble
view of affairs. I hope you will find that I will do all that I agree
to and a great deal more. I'm a little afraid of the night air and the
inclement season, and so will hasten to get myself and my child ready,"
and she passed quickly out.

Weeks put his hand to his mouth to conceal a grin as he thought, "She
hasn't agreed to do anything that I know on. Still, she's right;
she'll do a sight more than he expects, but it won't be just what he
expects."

Mrs. Weeks followed her relative to expedite matters, and it must be
confessed that the gathering of Mrs. Mumpson's belongings was no heavy
task. A small hair trunk, that had come down from the remote past,
held her own and her child's wardrobe and represented all their worldly
possessions.

Mr. Weeks, much pleased at the turn of affairs, became very affable,
b