pretty, and she gave thanks for it.
Rachel would make a thrifty and admirable housewife. She could not wish
her son a better mate. Andrew would be needed on the farm, which would
be his eventually, and she would have no difficulty in living with such
a daughter-in-law.

But she resolved that the old arrangement, whereby Philemon Henry's
daughter was to spend the summers with them, should remain no longer in
force. She did not ask that her husband should view the matter at once
through her eyes; she knew a quiet, steady influence would better gain
her point than an outspoken opposition.

James Henry was rather surprised when she proposed that he should take
Primrose home, as they had begun to call Madam Wetherill's.

"There is no great haste," he replied.

"But thou art going at least half-way there, and it was to be merely a
visit. Thou must see, James, that all her ways and habits are very
different, and our good seed would be sown on sandy ground. When the
child comes to be a year or so older we may have more influence, and
presently, I think, Madam Wetherill may tire of her. She distracts Faith
with her idle habits and light talk, and just now we are very busy with
the drying of fruit and preserving, the spinning, and the bleaching of
white cloth, as well as the dyeing of the other. It takes too much of my
time to look after her. And, since my illness, I have not felt equal to
the care of doing my duty to her."

"Certainly; as thou wilt, wife. I foresee that we shall gain no great
influence over her, since every season our work must be undone. And I
will discuss the matter with Friend Chew. If he considers that some part
of the duty may be abrogated, we will not push our claim at present."

Friend Chew thought there was nothing really binding in the agreement.
Philemon had requested that his wife and daughter should spend a part of
the year with his brother, but here had been the mother's fortune and
the appointment of a new guardian. And since Madam Wetherill had a
fortune and so few relatives, perhaps it would be as well to allow her
some leeway.

The good lady was surprised at the speedy return. She ordered some
refreshments for James Henry and begged that the horses might have a
rest. Then they talked of farming matters and the state of the country,
hoping hostilities might be confined where they had their first
outbreak, mostly to the Eastern Colonies and New York.

"Thou dost know that I am bitterly op