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you needn't envy me；〃 he responded； patting her knotted hand。 〃I took less courage with me when I stormed my heights。〃
CHAPTER X。 Sentimental and Otherwise
In the gray dawn Cynthia came softly downstairs and； passing her mother's door on tiptoe； went out into the kitchen to begin preparations for her early breakfast。 She wore a severe black alpaca dress； made from a cast…off one of her mother's； and below her white linen collar she had pinned a cameo brooch bearing the head of Minerva； which had once belonged to Aunt Susannah。 On the bed upstairs she had left her shawl and bonnet and a pair of carefully mended black silk mitts； for her monthly visits to the little country town were endured with something of the frozen dignity which supported Marie Antoinette in the tumbrel。 It was a case where family pride was found more potent than Christian resignation。 When she opened the kitchen door； with her arms full of resinous pine from the pile beside the steps； she found that Tucker had risen before her and was fumbling awkwardly in the safe with his single hand。 〃Why； Uncle Tucker！〃 she exclaimed in surprise； 〃what on earth has happened？〃 Turning his cheerful face upon her； he motioned to a little wooden tobacco box on the bare table。 〃A nest full of swallows tumbled down my chimney log in the night；〃 he explained； 〃and they cried so loud I couldn't sleep； so I thought I might as well get up and dig 'em a worm or two。 Do you happen to know where a bit of wool is？〃 Cynthia threw her bundle of kindling…wood on the hearth and stood regarding him with apathetic eyes。 〃You'd much better wring their necks；〃 she responded indifferently； 〃but there's a basketful of wool Aunt Polly has just carded in the closet。 How in the world did you manage to dress yourself？〃 〃Oh； it's wonderful what one hand can do when it's put to it。 Would you mind fastening my collar； by the way； and any buttons that you happen to see loose？〃 She glanced over him critically； pulling his clothes in place and adjusting a button here and there。 〃I do hate to see you in this old jean suit；〃 she said； 〃you used to look so nice in your other clothes。〃 With a laugh he settled his empty sleeve。 〃Oh； they're good for warm weather；〃 he responded； 〃and they wash easily； which is something。 Think； too； what a waste it would be to dress half a man in a whole suit of broadcloth。〃 〃Oh； don't； don't；〃 she protested； on the point of tears； but he smiled and patted her bowed shoulder。 〃I got over that long ago； honey；〃 he said gently。 〃I kicked powerful hard with my one foot at first； but the dust I raised wasn't a speck in the face of God Almighty。 There； there； we'll have a fine sunrise； and I'm going out to watch it from my old benchunless you'll find something for a single hand to do。〃 She shook her head； smiling with misty eyes。
〃You'll have breakfast with me； I suppose；〃 she said。 〃I got up early because I couldn't sleep； but it's not yet four o'clock。〃 For an instant he looked at her gravely。 〃Worrying about the day？〃 〃A little。〃 〃If I could only manage to hobble along with you。〃 〃Oh； but you couldn't； dearand the worst of it is having to wait so long in town for the afternoon stage。 I get my sewing； and then I eat my lunch on the old church steps； and then there are four mortal hours when I walk about aimlessly in the sun。〃 〃And you wouldn't go to see anybody？〃 〃With my bundle of work； and in this alpaca？ Not for worlds！〃 He sighed； not reproachfully； but with the sympathy which projects itself into states of feeling other than its own。 〃Well； I wish all the same you'd let Lila go in with you。 I think you make a mistake about her； Cynthia； she wouldn't feel the strain of it half so much as you do。〃
〃But I'd feel it for her。 No； no； it's better as it is； and she does walk to the cross…roads with me； you know。 Old Jacob Weatherby brings her back in his wagon。 Christopher can't get off； but he'll come for me at sundown。〃 〃Are you sure it isn't young Jim who fetches Lila？〃 She frowned。 〃If it were young Jim； her going would be impossiblebut the old man knows his place and keeps it。〃 〃It's a better place than ours to…day； I reckon；〃 returned Tucker； smiling。 〃To an observer across the road I dare say the odds would seem considerably in his favour。 I met him in the turnpike last Sunday in a brand new broadcloth。〃
〃Oh； I can't bear to hear you；〃 returned Cynthia passionately。 〃If we must go to the dogs； for heaven's sake； let's go remembering that we are Blakesor Corbins； if you like。〃
〃Bless your heart； child； I'd just as lief remember I was a Blake or even a Weatherby； for that matter。 Why； Jacob Weatherby's grandfather was an honest； self…respecting tiller of the soil when mine used to fish his necktie out of the punch bowl every Saturday night； people said。〃
She lifted her black skirt above her knees； and pinned it tightly at her back with a large safety pin she had taken from her bosom。 Then kneeling on the hearth； she laid the knots of resinous pine on a crumpled newspaper in the great stone fireplace。
〃I don't mind your picking flaws in me；〃 she said dryly； 〃but I do wish you would let my great grandfather rest in his grave。 He's about all I've got。〃
〃Well； I beg his pardon for speaking the truth about him；〃 returned Tucker penitently； 〃and now my swallows are so noisy I must stop their mouths。〃
He went out humming a tune； while Cynthia hung the boiler from the crane and mixed the corn…meal dough in a wooden tray。
When breakfast was on the table Lila appeared with a reproachful face； hurriedly knotting her kerchief as she entered。
〃Oh； Cynthia； you promised to let me get breakfast；〃 she said。 〃Mother was very restless all nightshe dreamed that she was being married over againso I slept too late。〃
〃It didn't matter； dear； I was awake； and I didn't mind getting up。 Are you ready to go？〃
〃All except my hat。〃 Yawning slightly； she raised her hands and pushed up her clustering hair that was but a shade darker than Christopher's。 Trivial as the likeness was； it began and ended with her heavy curls； for her hazel eyes held a peculiar liquid beam； and her face； heart…shaped in outline； had none of the heaviness of jaw which marred the symmetry of his。 A little brown mole beside the dimple in her cheek gave the finishing touch of coquetry to the old…world quaintness of her appearance。
As she passed the window on her way to the table she threw a drowsy glance out into the yard。
〃Why； there's Uncle Tucker sitting on the ground；〃 she said； 〃he must be crazy。〃
Cynthia was pouring the hastily made coffee from the steaming boiler； and she did not look up as she answered。
〃You'd better go out and help him up。 He's digging worms for some swallows that fell down his chimney。〃
〃Well； of all the ideas！〃 exclaimed Lila； laughing； but she went out with cheerful sweetness and assisted him to his crutches。
A half…hour later； when the meal was over and Christopher had gone out to the stable； the two women tied on their bonnets and went softly through the hall。 As they passed Mrs。 Blake's door she awoke and called out sharply。 〃Cynthia； is that you？ What are you doing up so early？〃 Cynthia paused at strained attention on the threshold。 〃I'm