Idonotknowwithwhichofthetwoestimates——Mr。Taylor’sortheVirginian’s——youagreed。DidyouthinkthatMissMaryStarkWoodofBennington，Vermont，wasfortyyearsofage？Thatwouldhavebeenanerror。AtthetimeshewrotethelettertoMrs。
Balaam，ofwhichlettercertainportionshavebeenquotedinthesepages，shewasinhertwenty-firstyear；or，tobemoreprecise，shehadbeentwentysomeeightmonthsprevious。
Now，itisnotusualforyoungladiesoftwentytocontemplateajourneyofnearlytwothousandmilestoacountrywhereIndiansandwildanimalsliveunchained，unlesstheyaretomakesuchjourneyincompanywithaprotector，oraregoingtoaprotector’sarmsattheotherend。NorisschoolteachingonBearCreekausualambitionforsuchyoungladies。
ButMissMaryStarkWoodwasnotausualyoungladyfortworeasons。
First，therewasherdescent。Hadshesowished，shecouldhavebelongedtoanynumberofthosepatrioticsocietiesofwhichourAmericanearshavegrownaccustomedtohearsomuch。ShecouldhavebeenenrolledintheBostonTeaParty，theEthanAllenTiconderogas，theGreenMountainDaughters，theSaratogaSacredCircle，andtheConfederatedColonialChatelaines。Shetraceddirectdescentfromthehistoricladywhosenameshebore，thatMollyStarkwhowasnotawidowafterthebattlewhereherlord，herCaptainJohn，battledsobravelyastosendhisnamethrillingdownthroughthebloodofgenerationsofschoolboys。
ThisancestresswasherchiefclaimtobeamemberofthoseshiningsocietieswhichIhaveenumerated。Butshehadbeenwillingtojoinnoneofthem，althoughinvitationstodosowerebynomeanslacking。Icannottellyouherreason。Still，Icantellyouthis。Whenthesesocietiesweremuchspokenofinherpresence，herverysprightlycountenancebecamemoresprightly，andsheaddedherwordsofpraiseorrespecttothegeneralchorus。Butwhenshereceivedaninvitationtojoinoneofthesebodies，hercountenance，asshereadthemissive，wouldassumeanexpressionwhichwasknowntoherfriendsas“slickinghernoseintheair。“IdonotthinkthatMolly’sreasonforrefusingtojoincouldhavebeenatrulygoodone。Ishouldaddthathermostpreciouspossession——atreasurewhichaccompaniedherevenifshewentawayforonlyonenight’sabsence——wasanheirloom，alittleminiatureportraitoftheoldMollyStark，paintedwhenthatfar-offdamemusthavebeenscarcemorethantwenty。AndwheneachsummertheyoungMollywenttoDunbarton，NewHampshire，topayherestablishedfamilyvisittothelastsurvivorsofherconnectionwhoborethenameofStark，nowordthatsheheardintheDunbartonhousespleasedhersomuchaswhenacertaingreat-auntwouldtakeherbythehand，and，afterlookingwithfondintentnessather，pronounce:“Mydear，you’regettingmoreliketheGeneral’swifeeveryyearyoulive。“
“Isupposeyoumeanmynose，“Mollywouldthenreply。
“Nonsense，child。Youhavethefamilylengthofnose，andI’veneverheardthatithasdisgracedus。“
“ButIdon’tthinkI’mtallenoughforit。“
“Therenow，runtoyourroom，anddressfortea。TheStarkshavealwaysbeenpunctual。“
Andafterthisannualconversation，Mollywouldruntoherroom，andthereinitsprivacy，evenattheriskoffallingbelowthepunctualityoftheStarks，shewouldconsulttwoobjectsforquiteaminutebeforeshebegantodress。Theseobjects，asyouhavealreadycorrectlyguessed，weretheminiatureoftheGeneral’swifeandthelookingglass。
SomuchforMissMollyStarkWood’sdescent。
Thesecondreasonwhyshewasnotausualgirlwashercharacter。
Thischaracterwastheresultofprideandfamilypluckbattlingwithfamilyhardship。
Justoneyearbeforeshewastobepresentedtotheworld——notthegreatmetropolitanworld，butaworldthatwouldhavemadeherwelcomeanddoneherhomageatitslittledancesandlittledinnersinTroyandRutlandandBurlington——fortunehadturnedherbackupontheWoods。Theirpossessionshadneverbeengreatones；buttheyhadsufficed。Fromgenerationtogenerationthefamilyhadgonetoschoollikegentlefolk，dressedlikegentlefolk，usedthespeechandwaysofgentlefolk，andasgentlefolklivedanddied。Andnowthemillsfailed。
Insteadofthinkingaboutherfirsteveningdress，Mollyfoundpupilstowhomshecouldgivemusiclessons。Shefoundhandkerchiefsthatshecouldembroiderwithinitials。Andshefoundfruitthatshecouldmakeintopreserves。Thatmachinecalledthetypewriterwastheninexistence，butthedayofwomentypewritershadasyetscarcelybeguntodawn，elseIthinkMollywouldhavepreferredthisoccupationtothehandkerchiefsandthepreserves。
TherewerepeopleinBenningtonwho“wonderedhowMissWoodcouldgoaboutfromhousetohouseteachingthepiano，andshealady。“
Therealwayshavebeensuchpeople，Isuppose，becausetheworldmustalwayshavearubbishheap。ButweneednotdwelluponthemfurtherthantomentiononeotherremarkoftheirsregardingMolly。TheyallwithonevoicedeclaredthatSamBannettwasgoodenoughforanybodywhodidfancyembroideryatfivecentsaletter。
“Idaresayhehadagreat-grandmotherquiteasgoodashers，“
remarkedMrs。Flynt，thewifeoftheBaptistminister。
“That’sentirelypossible，“returnedtheEpiscopalrectorofHoosic，“onlywedon’thappentoknowwhoshewas。“TherectorwasafriendofMolly’s。Afterthislittleobservation，Mrs。
Flyntsaidnomore，butcontinuedherpurchasesinthestorewheresheandtherectorhadhappenedtofindthemselvestogether。LatershestatedtoafriendthatshehadalwaysthoughttheEpiscopalChurchasnobbishone，andnowsheknewit。
SopublicopinionwentonbeingindignantoverMolly’sconduct。
Shecouldstooptoworkformoney，andyetshepretendedtoholdherselfabovethemostrisingyoungmaninHoosicFalls，andalljustbecausetherewasadifferenceintheirgrandmothers！
Wasthisthereasonatthebottomofit？Theverybottom？I
cannotbecertain，becauseIhaveneverbeenagirlmyself。
Perhapsshethoughtthatworkisnotastooping，andthatmarriagemaybe。Perhaps——ButallIreallyknowisthatMollyWoodcontinuedcheerfullytoembroiderthehandkerchiefs，makethepreserves，teachthepupils——andfirmlytorejectSamBannett。
Thusitwentonuntilshewastwenty。TherecertainmembersofherfamilybegantotellherhowrichSamwasgoingtobe——was，indeed，already。ItwasatthistimethatshewroteMrs。BalaamherdoubtsandherdesiresastomigratingtoBearCreek。Itwasatthistimealsothatherfacegrewalittlepaler，andherfriendsthoughtthatshewasoverworked，andMrs。Flyntfearedshewaslosingherlooks。Itwasatthistime，too，thatshegrewveryintimatewiththatgreat-auntoveratDunbarton，andfromherreceivedmuchcomfortandstrengthening。
“Never！“saidtheoldlady，“especiallyifyoucan’tlovehim。“
“Idolikehim，“saidMolly；“andheisverykind。“
“Never！“saidtheoldladyagain。“WhenIdie，you’llhavesomething——andthatwillnotbelongnow。“
Mollyflungherarmsaroundheraunt，andstoppedherwordswithakiss。Andthenonewinterafternoon，twoyearslater，camethelaststraw。
Thefrontdooroftheoldhousehadshut。Outofithadsteppedthepersistentsuitor。Mrs。Flyntwatchedhimdriveawayinhissmartsleigh。
“Thatgirlisafool！“shesaidfuriously；andshecameawayfromherbedroomwindowwhereshehadpostedherselfforobservation。
Insidetheoldhouseadoorhadalsoshut。ThiswasthedoorofMolly’sownroom。Andthereshesat，infloodsoftears。Forshecouldnotbeartohurtamanwholovedherwithallthepoweroflovethatwasinhim。
Itwasabouttwilightwhenherdooropened，andanelderlyladycamesoftlyin。
“Mydear，“sheventured，“andyouwerenotable——“
“Oh，mother！“criedthegirl，“haveyoucometosaythattoo？“
ThenextdayMissWoodhadbecomeveryhard。InthreeweeksshehadacceptedthepositiononBearCreek。Intwomonthsshestarted，heart-heavy，butwithaspiritcravingtheunknown。
IX。THESPINSTERMEETSTHEUNKNOWN
OnaMondaynoonasmallcompanyofhorsemenstrungoutalongthetrailfromSunkCreektogathercattleovertheirallottedsweepofrange。Springwasbackward，andthey，astheyrodegallopingandgatheringuponthecoldweek’swork，cursedcheerilyandoccasionallysang。TheVirginianwasgraveinbearingandofinfrequentspeech；buthekeptasonggoing——amatterofsomeseventy-nineverses。Seventy-eightwerequiteunprintable，andrejoicedhisbrothercowpunchersmonstrously。They，knowinghimtobeasingularman，foreboreevertopresshim，andawaitedhisownhumor，lestheshouldwearyofthelyric；andwhenafteradayofsilenceapparentlysaturnine，hewouldlifthisgentlevoiceandbegin:
“IfyougotomonkeywithmyLooloogirl，I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo:
I’llcyarveyourheartwithmyrazor，AND
I’llshootyouwithmypistol，too——“
thentheywouldstridentlytakeupeachlastline，andkeepitgoingthree，four，tentimes，andkickholesinthegroundtotheswingofit。
BythelevelsofBearCreekthatreachlikeinletsamongthepromontoriesofthelonelyhills，theycameupontheschoolhouse，roofedandreadyforthefirstnativeWyomingcrop。Itsymbolizedthedawnofaneighborhood，anditbroughtachangeintothewildernessair。Thefeelofitstruckcolduponthefreespiritsofthecow-punchers，andtheytoldeachotherthat，whatwithwomenandchildrenandwirefences，thiscountrywouldnotlongbeacountryformen。Theystoppedforamealatanoldcomrade’s。Theylookedoverhisgate，andtherehewaspatteringamonggardenfurrows。
“Pickin’nosegays？“inquiredtheVirginianandtheoldcomradeaskediftheycouldnotrecognizepotatoesexceptinthedish。
Buthegrinnedsheepishlyatthem，too，becausetheyknewthathehadnotalwayslivedinagarden。Thenhetookthemintohishouse，wheretheysawanobjectcrawlingonthefloorwithahandfulofsulphurmatches。Hebegantoremovethematches，butstoppedinalarmatthevociferousresult；andhiswifelookedinfromthekitchentocautionhimabouthumoringlittleChristopher。
WhenshebeheldthematchesshewasaghastbutwhenshesawherbabygrowquietinthearmsoftheVirginian，shesmiledatthatcowpuncherandreturnedtoherkitchen。
ThentheVirginianslowlyspokeagain:“Howmanylittlestrangershaveyu’got，James？
“Onlytwo。“
“My！Ain’titmostthreeyearssinceyu’maried？Yu’mustn’tlettimecreepahaido’yu’，James。
Thefatheroncemoregrinnedathisguests，whothemselvesturnedsheepishandpolite；forMrs。Westfallcamein，briskandhearty，andsetthemeatuponthetable。Afterthat，itwasshewhotalked。Theguestsatescrupulously，muttering，“Yes，ma’am，“and“No，ma’am，“intheirplates，whiletheirhostesstoldthemofincreasingfamiliesuponBearCreek，andtheexpectedschool-teacher，andlittleAlfred’searlyteething，andhowitwastimeforallofthemtobecomehusbandslikeJames。Thebachelorsofthesaddlelistened，alwaysdiffident，buteatingheartilytotheend；andsoonaftertheyrodeawayinathoughtfulclump。ThewivesofBearCreekwerefewasyet，andthehomesscattered；theschoolhousewasonlyasprigonthevastfaceofaworldofelkandbearanduncertainIndians；butthatnight，whentheearthnearthefirewaslitteredwiththecow-punchers’beds，theVirginianwashearddrawlingtohimself:
“AlfredandChristopher。Oh，sugar！“
Theyfoundpleasureinthedelicatelychosenshadeofthisoath。
HealsorecitedtothemanewverseabouthowhetookhisLooloogirltotheschoolhousefortolearnherABC；andasitwasquiteoriginalandunprintable，thecamplaughedandsworejoyfully，androlledinitsblanketstosleepunderthestars。
UponaMondaynoonlikewise(forthingswillhappenso)sometearfulpeopleinpetticoatswavedhandkerchiefsatatrainthatwasjustleavingBennington，Vermont。Agirl’sfacesmiledbackatthemonce，andwithdrewquickly，fortheymustnotseethesmiledieaway。
Shehadwithheralittlemoney，afewclothes，andinhermindarigiddeterminationneithertobeaburdentohermothernortogiveintothatmother’sdesires。Absencealonewouldenablehertocarryoutthisdetermination。Beyondthesethings，shepossessednotmuchexceptspelling-books，acolonialminiature，andthatcravingfortheunknownwhichhasbeenmentioned。Iftheancestorsthatwecarryshutupinsideustaketurnsindictatingtousouractionsandourstateofmind，undoubtedlyGrandmotherStarkwasempressofMolly’sspirituponthisMonday。
AtHoosicJunction，whichcamesoon，shepassedtheup-trainboundbacktoherhome，andseeingtheengineerandtheconductor，——facesthatsheknewwell，——hercouragenearlyfailedher，andsheshuthereyesagainstthisglimpseofthefamiliarthingsthatshewasleaving。Tokeepherselfsteadyshegrippedtightlyalittlebunchofflowersinherhand。
Butsomethingcausedhereyestoopen；andtherebeforeherstoodSamBannett，askingifhemightaccompanyhersofarasRotterdamJunction“No！“shetoldhimwithaseveritybornfromthestruggleshewasmakingwithhergrief。“Notamilewithme。NottoEagleBridge。
Good-by。“
