Histhirdwife，theoneoriginallysecuredforahousekeeper，borehimagirl，verymuchtohisdisgust，agirlnamedPatience，andgreatwasWaitstill’sdelightatthisadditiontothedullhousehold。Themotherwasatimid，colorless，docilecreature，butPatienceneverthelesswasasparkling，bright—eyedbaby，whospeedilybecametheverycentreoftheuniversetotheolderchild。Sothemonthsandyearsworeon，drearilyenough，until，whenPatiencewasnine，thethirdMrs。Baxtersuccumbedafterthemannerofherpredecessors，andslippedawayfromalifethathadgrownintolerable。Thetroublewasdiagnosedas\"livercomplaint，\"butscarcityofproperfood，nonewfrocksorkindwords，hardwork，andcontinualbullyingmaypossiblyhavebeencontributorycauses。Dr。Perrythoughtso，forhehadwitnessedthreemostcontenteddeathsintheBaxterhouse。TheladieswereallmembersofthechurchandhadpresumablymadetheirpeacewithGod，butthegooddoctorfanciedthattheirpleasureinjoiningtheangelswasmildcomparedwiththeirreliefatpartingwiththeDeacon。
\"IknowIhadn’toughttoputthecareonyou，Waitstill，andyouonlythirteen，\"poorMrs。Baxtersighed，astheyounggirlwaswatchingwithheronenightwhentheendseemeddrawingnear。
\"I’vemadeouttolivetillnowwhenPatienceisoldenoughtodressherselfandhelpround，butI’mallbeatoutandcan’ttryanymore。\"
\"DoyoumeanI’mtotakeyourplace，beamothertoPatience，andkeephouse，andeverything？\"askedWaitstillquaveringly。
\"Idon’tseebutyou’llhaveto，unlessyourfathermarriesagain。He’llneverhirehelp，youknowthat！\"
\"Iwon’thaveanothermotherinthishouse，\"flashedthegirl。
\"There’sbeenthreehereandthat’senough！Ifhebringsanybodyhome，I’lltakePatienceandrunaway，asJobdid；orifheleavesmealone，I’llwashandironandscrubandcooktillPatiencegrowsup，andthenwe’llgoofftogetherandhidesomewhere。I’mfourteen；oh，mother，howsooncouldIbemarriedandtakePatiencetolivewithme？Doyouthinkanybodywilleverwantme？\"
\"Don’tmarryforahome，Waitstill！Yourownmotherdidthat，andsodidI，andwewerebothpunishedforit！You’vebeenagreathelpandI’vehadasightofcomfortoutofthebaby，butI
wouldn’tgothroughitagain，notevenforher！You’rerealsmartandcapableforyourageandyou’vedoneyourfullshareoftheworkeveryday，evenwhenyouwereatschool。Youcangetalongallright。\"
\"Idon’tknowhowI’mgoingtodoeverythingalone，\"saidthegirl，forcingbackhertears。\"You’vealwaysmadethebrownbread，andminewillneversuitfather。IsupposeIcanwash，butdon’tknowhowtoironstarchedclothes，normakepickles，andoh！Icanneverkillarooster，mother，it’snousetoaskmeto！
I’mnotbigenoughtobetheheadofthefamily。\"
Mrs。Baxterturnedherpale，tiredfaceawayfromWaitstill’sappealingeyes。
\"Iknow，\"shesaidfaintly。\"Ihatetoleaveyoutobearthebruntalone，butImust！……TakegoodcareofPatienceanddon’tlethergetintotrouble……Youwon’t，willyou？\"
\"I’llbecareful，\"promisedWaitstill，sobbingquietly；\"I’lldomybest。\"
\"You’vegotmorecouragethaneverIhad；don’tyous’poseyoucanstiffenupanddefendyourselfalittlemite？……Yourfather’doughttobeopposed，forhisowngood……butI’veneverseenanybodythatdareddoit。\"Then，afterapause，shesaidwithaflashofspirit，——\"Anyhow，Waitstill，he’syourfatherafterall。He’snobloodrelationofmine，andIcan’tstandhimanotherday；that’sthereasonI’mwillingtodie。\"
IV
SOMETHINGOFAHERO
IVORYBOYNTONliftedthebarsthatdividedhislandfromthehighroadandwalkedslowlytowardthehouse。ItwasApril，buttherewerestillpatchesofsnowhereandthere，fastmeltingunderadrizzlingrain。Itwasagrayworld，ableak，black—and—brownworld，aboveandbelow。Theskywasleaden；theroadandthefootpathweredeepinamuddyoozefleckedwithwhite。Thetree—trunks，black，withbarebranches，werelinedagainstthegraysky；nevertheless，springhadbeenonthewayforaweek，andafewsunnydayswouldbringtheyearlymiracleforwhichallheartswerelonging。
Ivorywasseason—wiseandhisquickeyehadcaughtmanyasignashewalkedthroughthewoodsfromhisschoolhouse。Anewanddifferentcolorhauntedthetree—tops，andonehadonlytolookcloselyattheelmbudstoseethattheywerebeginningtoswell。
Somefatrobinshadbeensunningaboutintheschool—yardatnoon，andsparrowshadbeenchirpingandtwitteringonthefence—rails。Yes，thewinterwasover，andIvorywasglad，forithadmeantnocoastingand—skatingandsleighingforhim，butlongwalksindeepsnoworslush；longevenings，goodforstudy，butshortdays，andgreaterlonelinessforhismother。Hecouldseehernowashenearedthehouse，standingintheopendoorway，herhandshadinghereyes，watching，alwayswatching，forsomeonewhonevercame。
\"Springisontheway，mother，butitisn’thereyet，sodon’tstandthereintherain，\"hecalled。\"LookatthenosegayI
gatheredforyouasIcamethroughthewoods。HerearepussywillowsandredmapleblossomsandMayflowers，wouldyoubelieveit？\"
LoisBoyntontookthehandfulofbuddingthingsandsniffedtheirfragrance。
\"You’relateto—night，Ivory，\"shesaid。\"Rodwantedhissupperearlysothathecouldgoofftosinging—school，butIkeptsomethingwarmforyou，andI’llmakeyouafreshcupoftea。\"
Ivorywentintothelittleshedroomoffthekitchen，changedhismuddybootsforslippers，andmadehimselfgenerallytidy；thenhecamebacktotheliving—roombringingapineknotwhichheflungonthefire，wakingittoabrilliantflame。
\"Wecanbeaslavishaswelikewiththestumpsnow，mother，forspringiscoming，\"hesaid，ashesatdowntohismeal。
\"I’vebeenlookingoutmorethanusualthisafternoon，\"shereplied。\"There’shardlyanysnowleft，andthoughthewalkingissobadI’vebeenratherexpectingyourfatherbeforenight。Yourememberhesaid，whenhewentawayinJanuary，thatheshouldbebackbeforetheMayflowersbloomed？\"
Itdidnotdoanygoodtosay：\"Yes，mother，buttheMayflowershavebloomedtentimessincefatherwentaway。\"Hehadtriedthat，gentlyandpersistentlywhenfirsthermindbegantobeconfusedfromlonggriefandhurtlove，strickenprideandsicksuspense。
Insteadofthat，Ivoryturnedthesubjectcheerily，saying，\"Well，we’resureofagoodseason，Ithink。There’sbeenagrandsnow—fall，andthat，theysay，isthepoorman’smanure。RodandIwillputinmorecornandpotatoesthisyear。Ishan’thavetoworksingle—handedverylong，forheisgrowingtobequiteafarmer。\"
\"Yourfatherwasveryfondofgreencorn，buthenevercaredforpotatoes，\"Mrs。Boyntonsaid，vaguely，takingupherknitting。\"I
alwayshadgreatprideinmycooking，butIcouldnevergetyourfathertorelishmypotatoes。\"
\"Well，hissondoes，anyway，\"Ivoryreplied，helpinghimselfplentifullyfromadishthatheldoneofhismother’sbestconcoctions，potatoesmincedfineandputtogetherintothespiderwiththinbitsofporkandallbrownedtogether。
\"IsawtheBaxtergirlsto—day，mother，\"hecontinued，notbecausehehopedshewouldgiveanyheedtowhathesaid，butfromthesheerlongingforcompanionship。\"TheDeacondroveoffwithLawyerWilson，whowantedhimtogivetestimonyinsomecaseorotherdowninMilltown。TheminutePattysawhimgoingupSacoHill，sheharnessedtheoldstarvedBaxtermareandthegirlsstartedovertotheLowerCornertoseesomefriends。Itseemsit’sPatty’sbirthdayandtheywerecelebrating。Imetthemjustastheywerecomingbackandhelpedthemliftthericketywagonoutofthemud；theywerestuckinituptothehubsofthewheels。IadvisedthemtowalkuptheTown—HouseHilliftheyeverexpectedtogetthehorsehome。\"
Town—HouseHill！\"saidIvory’smother，droppingherknitting。
\"Thatwaswherewehadsuchwonderfulmeetings！TrulytheLordwaspresentinourmidst，andoh，Ivory！thevisionswesawinthatplacewhenJacobCochranefirstunfoldedhisgospeltous。
Waseversuchaman！\"
\"Probablynot，mother，\"remarkedIvorydryly。
\"YouwerespeakingoftheBaxters。Iremembertheirhome，andthelittlegirlwhousedtostandinthegatewayandwatchwhenwecameoutofmeeting。Therewasababy，too；isn’tthereaBaxterbaby，Ivory？\"
\"Shedidn’tstayababy；sheisseventeenyearsoldto—day，mother。\"
\"Yousurpriseme，butchildrendogrowveryfast。Shehadastrangename，butIcannotrecallit。\"
\"HernameisPatience，butnobodybutherfathercallsheranythingbutPatty，whichsuitshermuchbetter。\"
\"No，thenamewasn’tPatience，nottheoneImean。\"
\"TheoldersisterisWaitstill，perhapsyoumeanher？\"—andIvorysatdownbythefirewithhisbookandhispipe。
\"Waitstill！Waitstill！thatisit！Suchabeautifulname！\"
\"She’sabeautifulgirl。\"
\"Waitstill！’Theyalsoservewhoonlystandandwait。’’Wait，I
say，ontheLordandHewillgivetheethedesiresofthyheart。’——Thosewerewonderfuldays，whenwewerecaughtupoutofthebodyandmingledfreelyinthespiritworld。\"Mrs。BoyntonwasnowfullystartedonthetopicthatabsorbedhermindandIvorycoulddonothingbutlethertellthestorythatshehadtoldhimahundredtimes。
\"IrememberwhenfirstweheardJacobCochranespeak。\"（Thiswasherusualwayofbeginning。）\"Yourfatherwasapreacher，asyouknow，Ivory，butyouwillneverknowwhatawonderfulpreacherhewas。Mygrandfather，beingafinegentleman，andagovernor，wouldnotgivehisconsenttomymarriage，butIneverregrettedit，never！YourfathersawElderCochraneatarevivalmeetingoftheFreeWillBaptistsinScarboro’，andwasmuchimpressedwithhim。Afewdayslaterwewenttothefuneralofachildinthesameneighborhood。Noonewhowastherecouldeverforgetit。Theministerhadmadehislongprayerwhenamansuddenlyenteredtheroom，cametowardsthecoffin，andplacedhishandonthechild’sforehead。Theroom，inaninstant，wasasstillasthedeaththathadcalledustogether。Thestrangerwastallandofcommandingpresence；hiseyespiercedourveryhearts，andhismarvellousvoicepenetratedtodepthsinoursoulsthathadneverbeenreachedbefore。\"
\"Washeabetterspeakerthanmyfather？\"askedIvory，whodreadedhismother’shoursofcompletesilenceevenmorethanherperiodsofreminiscence。
\"HespokeasiftheLordofHostshadgivenhiminspiration；asiftheangelswerepouringwordsintohismouthjustforhimtoutter，\"repliedMrs。Boynton。\"Yourfatherwasspell—bound，andI
onlylessso。Whenheceasedspeaking，thechild’smothercrossedtheroom，andswayingtoandfro，fellathisfeet，sobbingandwailingandimploringGodtoforgivehersins。
Theycarriedherupstairs，andwhenwelookedaboutaftertheconfusionandexcitementthestrangerhadvanished。Butwefoundhimagain！AsElderCochranesaid：’TheprophetoftheLordcanneverbehid；nodarknessisthickenoughtocoverhim！’Therewasasixweeks’revivalmeetinginNorthSacowherethreehundredsoulswereconverted，andyourfatherandIwereamongthem。Wehadfanciedourselvestruebelieversforyears，butJacobCochraneunstoppedourearssothatwecouldhearthetruthsrevealedtohimbytheAlmighty！—Itwasallsosimpleandeasyatthebeginning，butitgrewhardandgrievousafterward；
hardtokeepthepath，Imean。IneverquiteknewwhetherGodwasangrywithmeforbackslidingattheend，butIcouldnotalwaysaccepttherevelationsthatElderCochraneandyourfatherhad！\"
LoisBoynton’shandswerenowquietlyfoldedovertheknittingthatlayforgotteninherlap，butherlow，thrillingvoicehadanoteinitthatdidnotbelongwhollytoearth。
Therewasalongsilence；oneofmanylongsilencesattheBoyntonfireside，brokenonlybythetickingoftheclock，thepurringofthecat，andtheclickingofMrs。Boynton’sneedles，as，herparoxysmofreminiscenceover，sheknittedceaselessly，withhereyesonthewindoworthedoor。
\"It’sabouttimeforRodtobecomingback，isn’tit？\"askedIvory。
\"Heoughttobeheresoon，butperhapsheisgoneforgood；itmaybethathethinkshehasmadeusalongenoughvisit。Idon’tknowwhetheryourfatherwillliketheboywhenhecomeshome。Heneverdidfancycompanyinthehouse。\"
IvorylookedupinastonishmentfromhisGreekgrammar。Thiswasanentirelynewturnofhismother’smind。Oftenwhenshewasmorethanusuallyconfusedhewouldtrytoclearthecobwebsfromherbrainbygentlyquestioningheruntilshebroughtherselfbacktoaclearerunderstandingofherownthought。Thusfarhervagarieshadnevermadeherunjusttoanyhumancreature；shewasuniformlysweetandgentleinspeechanddemeanor。
\"WhydoyoutalkofRod’svisitinguswhenheisoneofthefamily？\"Ivoryaskedquietly。
\"Isheoneofthefamily？Ididn’tknowit，\"repliedhismotherabsently。
\"Lookatme，mother，straightintheeye；that’sright：nowlisten，dear，towhatIsay。\"
Mrs。Boynton’shairthathadbeeninheryouthlikeanaureoleofcorn—silkwasnowastrangeyellow—white，andherblueeyeslookedoutfromherpalefacewithahelplessappeal。
\"YouandIwerelivingalonehereafterfatherwentaway，\"Ivorybegan。\"Iwasalittleboy，youknow。Youandfatherhadsavedsomething，therewasthefarm，youworkedlikeaslave，Ihelped，andwelived，somehow，doyouremember？\"
\"Ido，indeed！Itwascoldandtheneighborswerecruel。JacobCochranehadgoneawayandhisdiscipleswerenotalwaystruetohim。Whenthemagnetismofhispresencewaswithdrawn，theycouldnotfollowallhisrevelations，andtheyforgothowhehadawakenedtheirspirituallifeatthefirstofhispreaching。Yourfatherwasalwaysastanchbeliever，butwhenhestartedonhismissionandwenttoParsonsfieldtohelpElderCochraneinhismeetings，theneighborsbegantocriticizehim。Theydoubtedhim。
Youweretooyoungtorealizeit，butIdid，anditalmostbrokemyheart。\"
\"Iwasnearlytwelveyearsold；doyouthinkIescapedallthegossip，mother？\"
\"Youneverspokeofittome，Ivory。\"
\"No，thereismuchthatIneverspokeoftoyou，mother，butsometimewhenyougrowstrongerandyourmemoryisbetterwewilltalktogether。——Doyourememberthewinter，longafterfatherwentaway，thatParsonLanesentmetoFairfieldAcademytogetenoughGreekandLatintomakemeaschoolmaster？\"
\"Yes，\"sheanswereduncertainly。
\"Don’tyourememberIgotafreeridedown—riveroneFridayandcamehomeforSunday，justtosurpriseyou？AndwhenIgothereI
foundyouillinbed，withMrs。MasonandDr。Perrytakingcareofyou。Youcouldnotspeak，youweresoill，buttheytoldmeyouhadbeenupinNewHampshiretoseeyoursister，thatshehaddied，andthatyouhadbroughtbackherboy，whowasonlyfouryearsold。ThatwasRod。Itookhimintobedwithmethatnight，poor，homesicklittlefellow，and，asyouknow，mother，he’sneverleftussince。\"
\"Ididn’trememberIhadasister。Isshedead，Ivory？\"askedMrs。Boyntonvaguely。
\"Ifshewerenotdead，doyousupposeyouwouldhavekeptRodmanwithuswhenwehadn’tbreadenoughforourowntwomouths，mother？\"questionedIvorypatiently。
\"No，ofcoursenot。Ican’tthinkhowIcanbesoforgetful。It’sworsesometimesthanothers。It’sworseto—daybecauseIknewtheMayflowerswerebloomingandthatremindedmeitwastimeforyourfathertocomehome；youmustforgiveme，dear，andwillyouexcusemeifIsitinthekitchenawhile？Thewindowbythesidedoorlooksouttowardstheroad，andifIputacandleonthesillitshinesquiteadistance。Thelaneissuchalongone，andyourfatherwasalwaysasadstumblerinthedark！Ishouldn’tlikehimtothinkIwasn’tlookingforhimwhenhe’sbeengonesinceJanuary。\"
Ivory’spipewentout，andhisbookslippedfromhiskneeunnoticed。
Hismotherwasmoreconfusedthanusual，butshealwayswaswhenspringcametoremindherofherhusband’spromise。Somehow，wellusedashewastohermentalwanderings，theymadehimuneasyto—night。Hisfatherhadlefthomeonafanciedmission，adutyhebelievedtobearevelationgivenbyGodthroughJacobCochrane。Thefarmdidnotmisshimmuchatfirst，Ivoryreflectedbitterly，forsincehisfanaticalespousalofCochranismhisfather’sinterestinsuchmundanemattersashouseholdexpenseshaddiminishedmonthbymonthuntiltheyhadnomeaningforhimatall。Letterstowifeandboyhadcomeatfirst，butaftersixmonths——duringwhichhehadwrittenfrommanyplaces，continuallydeferringthedateofhisreturn—theyhadceasedaltogether。Therestwassilence。Rumorsofhispresencehereortherecamefromtimetotime，butthoughParsonLaneandDr。Perrydidtheirbest，noneofthemwereeversubstantiated。
Wherehadthoseyearsofwanderingbeenpassed，andhadtheyallbeengiveneventoanimaginaryandfantasticserviceofGod？Washisfatherdead？Ifhewerealive，whatcouldkeephimfromwriting？Nothingbutaverystrongreason，oraverywrongone，sohissonthought，attimes。
SinceIvoryhadgrowntoman’sestate，heunderstoodthatinthelaterdaysofCochrane’spreaching，his\"visions，\"
\"inspirations，\"and\"revelations\"concerningthemarriagebondwereatriflestartlingfromtheold—fashioned，orthodoxpointofview。Hismostadvanceddisciplesweretoholdthemselvesinreadinesstorenouncetheirformervowsandseek\"spiritualconsorts，\"sometimesaccordingtohisadvice，sometimesastheirinclinationsprompted。
HadAaronBoyntonforsaken，willingly，thewifeofhisyouth，themotherofhisboy？Ifso，hemusthaverealizedtowhatstraitshewassubjectingthem。Ivoryhadnotforgottenthosefirstfewyearsofgrindingpoverty，anxiety，andsuspense。Hismother’smindhadstoodthestrainbravely，butitgavewayatlast；not，however，untilthatfatalwinterjourneytoNewHampshire，whencold，exposure，andfatiguedidtheirworstforherweakbody。
Religiousenthusiast，exaltedandimpressionable，anaturalmystic，shehadprobablyalwaysbeen，farmoresointemperament，indeed，thanherhusband；butalthoughshelefthomeonthatjourneyafrailandheartsickwoman，shereturnedadifferentcreaturealtogether，blurredandconfusedinmind，withcloudedmemoryandirrationalfancies。
Shemusthavegivenuphope，justthen，Ivorythought，andherlovewassodeepthatwhenitwasuprootedthesoilcamewithit。
Nowhopehadreturnedbecausethecruelmemoryhadfadedaltogether。Shesatbythekitchenwindowingentleexpectation，watching，alwayswatching。
AndthisisthewaymanyofIvoryBoynton’seveningswerespent，whiletheheartofhim，thefive—and—twenty—year—oldheartofhim，waslongingtofeelthebeatofanotherheart，agirl’sheartonlyamileormoreaway。TheiceinSacoWaterhadbrokenupandthewhiteblockssailedmajesticallydowntowardsthesea；
sapwasmountingandtheelmtreeswerebudding；thetrailingarbutuswasblossominginthewoods；therobinshadcome；—everythingwasannouncingthespring，yetIvorysawnochangingseasonsinhisfuture；nothingbutwinter，eternalwinterthere！
V
PATIENCEANDIMPATIENCE
PATTYhadbeensearchingforeggsinthebarnchamber，andcomingdowntheladderfromthehaymowspiedherfatherwashingthewagonbythewell—sidenearthesheddoor。CephasColekeptstoreforhimatmealhoursandwhenevertradewasunusuallybrisk，andtheBaxteryardwassohappilysituatedthatOldFoxycouldwatchbothhouseandstore。
ThereneverwasagoodtimetoaskDeaconBaxterafavor，thereforethismomentwouldserveaswellasanyother，so，approachinghimnearenoughtobeheardthroughtherubbingandsplashing，butnonearerthanwasnecessaryPattysaid：——
\"Father，canIgouptoEllenWilson’sthisafternoonandstaytotea？Iwon’tstarttillI’vedoneagoodday’sworkandI’llcomehomeearly。\"
\"Whatdoyouwanttogogallivantin’totheneighborsfor？I
neversawanythinglikethegirlsnowadays；highty—tighty，flauntin’，traipsin’，triflin’trollops，ev’ryoneof’em，that’swhattheyare，andEllenWilson’soneofthetriflin’est。
You’reoldenoughnowtostaytohomewhereyoubelongandmakeanefforttoearnyourboardandclothes，whichyoucan’t，evenifyoutry。\"
Spunk，real，Simon—purespunk，startedsome—whereinPattyandcoursedthroughherbloodlikewine。
\"Ifagirl’soldenoughtostayathomeandwork，Ishouldthinkshewasoldenoughtogooutandplayonceinawhile。\"Pattywasstilltootimidtomakethisremarkmorethanacourteoussuggestion，sofarasitstonewasconcerned。
\"Don’tanswermeback；you’refullofnewtricks，andyou’vegottostop’em，rightwhereyouare，orthere’llbetrouble。Youwerewhistlin’justnowupinthebarnchamber；that’soneofthethingsIwon’thaveroundmypremises，——awhistlin’girl。\"
\"’TwasaSabbath—SchoolhymnthatIwaswhistling！\"Thiswithacreditableimitationofdefiance。
\"Thatdon’tmakeitanybetter。Singyourhymnsifyoumustmakeanoisewhileyou’reworkin’。\"
\"It’sthesamemouththatmakesthewhistleandsingsthesong，soIdon’tseewhyone’sanywickederthantheother。\"
\"Youdon’thavetosee，\"repliedtheDeacongrimly；\"allyouhavetodoistomindwhenyou’respokento。Nowrun’long’boutyourwork。\"
\"Can’tIgouptoEllen’s，then？\"
\"What’sgoin’onupthere？\"
\"Justafrolic。There’salwaysagoodtimeatEllen’s，andI
wouldsolikethesightofabig，richhousenowandthen！\"
\"’Justafrolic。’Lando’Goshen，hearthegirl！’Sightofabig，richhouse，’indeed！——Willtherebeanyboysattheparty？\"
\"Is’poseso，or’twouldn’tbeafrolic，\"saidPattywithawfuldaring；\"buttherewon’tbemany；onlyafewofMark’sfriends。\"
\"Well，thereain’tgoin’tobenomoreargyfyin’！Iwon’thaveanygirlo’minefrolickin’withboys，sothat’stheendofit。
You’rekindo’crazylately，riggin’yourselfoutwitharibbonhereandaflowerthere，andpullin’yourhairdownoveryourears。Whydoyouwanttocoveryourearsup？Whataretheyfor？\"
\"Tohearyouwith，father，\"Pattyreplied，withhoney—sweetvoiceandeyesthatblazed。
