the father's side."

"Don't you expect Mis' Chellis'd like to come an' take tea with you
some afternoon? I always feel as if 't would be sad for you, such an
occasion, but I'll have everything real nice. Folks seem to be paying
her a good deal of attention," suggested Maria.

"And when anybody has been away a good while, they like to go all
round and see all the places that's familiar, if they do feel the
changes."

"Yes, I guess we'd better invite her to spend the afternoon," said the
old man, and they jogged on together in silence.

"Have you got everything you want to do with?", asked Mr. Haydon
kindly.

"Certain," answered Maria, with satisfaction. "I never was acquainted
with such a good provider as you be in all the houses I've ever
stopped in; I can say that. You've remembered a number o' things this
past week that I should have forgot myself. I've seen what other women
folks has to go through with, being obliged to screw every way an'
make up things out o' nothing, afraid to say the flour's gone or the
sugar's out. Them very husbands is the ones that'll find most fault if
their tables ain't spread with what they want. I know now what made
your wife always look so pleased an' contented."

"She was very saving an' judicious by natur'," said Mr. Haydon, as if
he did not wish to take so much praise entirely to himself. "I call
you a very saving woman too, Maria," he added, looking away over the
fields, as if he had made some remark about the grass.

The bright color rushed to Maria's face, but she could not say
anything. There was something very pleasant in the air; the fields
appeared new to her and most beautiful; it was a moment of great
happiness.

"I tell you I felt it dreadfully when I was alone all that time. I
enjoy having somebody to speak with now about poor Martha," said the
old man, with great feeling.

"It was dreadful lonely for you, wa'n't it?" said Maria, in her
sensible, pleasant, compassionate tone.

"People meant well enough with their advice, but I was set so
cross-wise that it all seemed like interference. I'd got to wait till
the right thing came round--an' it come at last," announced Mr. Haydon
handsomely. "I feel to be very grateful. Yes, I want to have Mis'
Chellis come an' take tea, just as she used to. We'll look over what's
left o' poor Marthy's little things, an' select something to give her
for a remembrance. 'T ain't very likely she'll come 'way East again at
her time o'