Maria was speaking to Mrs. Chellis, who was a little deaf.

"Yes'm, he does look well," she said. "I think his health's a good
sight better than it was a year ago. I don't know's you ever saw
anybody so pitiful as he was for a good while after he lost his wife.
He took it harder than some o' those do that make more talk. Yes, she
certain was a lovely woman, and one that knew how to take the lead for
him just where a man don't want to be bothered--about house matters
and little things. He's a dear, good, kind man, Mr. Haydon is. I feel
very grateful for all his kindness. I've got a lovely home, Mis'
Chellis," said Maria impulsively; "an' I try to do everything I can,
the way he an' Mis' Haydon always had it."

"I guess you do," agreed the guest. "I never see him look better since
he was a young man. I hope he knows how well off he is!"

They both laughed a little, and Mr. Haydon could not help smiling in
sympathy.

"There, I do enjoy spending with him," said the younger woman
wistfully; "but I can't help wishin' sometimes that I could have been
the one to help him save. I envy Mis' Haydon all that part of it, and
I can't help it."

"Why, you must set a sight by him!" exclaimed Mrs. Chellis, with mild
surprise. "I didn't know but what marryin' for love had all gone out
of fashion in Atfield."

"You can tell 'em it ain't," said Maria. At that moment Israel Haydon
turned and walked away slowly up the yard. His thin black figure
straightened itself gallantly, and he wore the look of a younger man.

Later that evening, when the guests were gone, after a most cheerful
and hospitable occasion, and the company tea things were all put away,
Maria was sitting in the kitchen for a few minutes to rest, and
Mr. Haydon had taken his own old chair near the stove, and sat there
tapping his finger-ends together. They had congratulated each other
handsomely, because everything had gone off so well; but suddenly they
both felt as if there were a third person present; their feeling
toward one another seemed to change. Something seemed to prompt them
to new confidence and affection, to speak the affectionate thoughts
that were in their hearts; it was no rebuking, injured presence, for a
sense of great contentment filled their minds. Israel Haydon tapped
his fingers less regularly than usual, and Maria found herself unable
to meet his eyes.

The silence between them grew more and more embarrassing, and at last
Mr. Haydon remembere