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ce of his house for love； it would utterly be condemned。〃
The old lady tapped the arm of her chair and turned her sightless eyes upon the Bible； as if Solomon in person stood there awaiting judgment。
〃I always liked that verse； brother；〃 she remarked； 〃though I am not sure that I consider it entirely proper reading for the young。 Aren't you tired walking； Lila？〃
〃Oh； no； mother。〃
〃Well； we mustn't take the Scriptures literally； you know； my child； if we did； I fear a great deal of trouble would come of itand surely it is a pity to magnify the passion of love when so very many estimable persons get along quite comfortably without it。 You remember my remarking how happy Miss Belinda Morrison always appeared to be； and so far as I know she never had a suitor in her life； though she lived to be upward of eighty。〃
〃Oh； mother！ and yet you were so madly in love with fatheryou remember the fancy ball。〃
〃The fancy ball occupied only one night； my dear； and I've had almost seventy years。 I married for love； as you certainly knowat my age； I suppose I might as well admit itbut the marriage happened to be also entirely suitable； and I hope that I should never have been guilty of anything so indelicate as to fall in love with a gentleman who wasn't a desirable match。〃
Lila flushed and bit her lip。
〃I don't care about stations in life； nor blood； nor anything like that；〃 she protested。
The old lady sighed。 〃We won't have any more of Solomon； Tucker； 〃she observed。 〃I fear he will put notions into the child's head。 Not care about blood； indeed！ What are we coming to； I wonder？ Well； well； I suppose it is what I deserve for allowing myself to fall so madly in love with your father。 When I look back now it seems to me that I could have achieved quite as much with a great deal less expenditure of emotion。〃
〃Now； now； Lucy； 〃 said Tucker； closing the gilt clasps of the Bible； 〃you're not yet seventy； and by the time you reach eighty you will see things clearer。 I'm a good deal younger than you； but I'm two…thirds in the grave already； which makes a difference。 My life's been long and pleasant as it is； but when I glance back upon it now I tell you the things I regret least in it are my youthful follies。 A man must be very far in his dotage； indeed； when he begins to wear a long face over the sharp breaths that he drew in youth。 I came very near ruining myself for a woman once； and the fact that I was ready to do iteven though I didn'tis what in the past I like best to recall to…day。 It makes it all easier and better； somehow； and it seems to put a zest into the hours I spend now on my old bench。 To have had one emotion that was bigger than you or your universe is to have had life； my dear。〃
The old lady wiped her eyes。 〃It may be so； brother； it may be so；〃 she admitted； 〃but not before Lila。 Is that you； Christopher？〃
The young man came in and crossed slowly to the fire； bending for an instant over her chair。 He was conscious suddenly that his clothes smelled of the fields and that the cold water of the well had not cleansed his face and hands。 All at once it came to him with something of a shock that this bare； refined poverty was beyond his levelthat about himself there was a coarseness； a brutality even； that made him shrink from contact with these otherswith his mother； with Lila； with poor； maimed Tucker in his cotton suit。 Was it only a distinction in manner； he wondered resentfully； or did the difference lie still deeper in some unlikeness of soul？ For the first time in his life he felt ill at ease in the presence of those he loved； and as his eyes dwelt moodily on Lila's graceful figureupon the swell of her low bosom； her swaying hips； and the free movement of her limbshe asked himself bitterly if he had aught in common with so delicate and rare a thing？ And she？ Was her blithe acquiescence； after all； but an assumed virtue； to whose outward rags she clung？ Was it possible that there was here no inward rebellion； none of that warfare against Destiny which at once inspirited and embittered his heart？
His face grew dark； and Uncle Boaz； coming in to stir the fire； glanced up at him and sighed。
〃You sho' do look down in de mouf； Marse Chris；〃 he observed。
Christopher started and then laughed blankly。 〃Well； I'm not proof against troubles； I reckon；〃 he returned。 〃They're things none of us can keep clear of； you know。〃
Uncle Boaz chuckled under his breath。 〃Go 'way f'om yer； Marse Chris； w'at you know 'bout troubleyou ain' even mah'ed yet。〃
〃Now； now； Boaz； don't be putting any ideas against marriage in his head；〃 broke in the old lady。 〃He has remained single too long as it is； for； as dear old Bishop Deane used to say； it is surely the duty of every gentleman to take upon himself the provision of at least one helpless female。 Not that I wish you to enter into marriage hastily； my son； or for any merely sentimental reasons； but I am sure； as things are； I believe one may have a great many trials even if one remains single； and though I know； of course； that I've had my share of trouble； still I never blamed your poor father one instantnot even for the loss of my six children； which certainly would not have happened if I had not married him。 But； as I've often told you； my dear； I think marriage should be rightly regarded more as a duty than as a pleasure。 Your Aunt Susannah always said it was like choosing a partner at a ball； for my part； I think it resembles more the selecting of a brand of flour。〃
〃And to think that she once cried herself sick because Christopher went hunting during the honeymoon！〃 exclaimed Tucker； with his pleasant laugh。
〃Ah； life is long； and one's honeymoon is only a month； brother；〃 retorted the old lady； 〃and I'm not saying anything against love； you know； when it comes to that。 Properly conducted； it is a very pleasant form of entertainment。 I've enjoyed it mightily myself； but I'm nearing seventy； and the years of love seem very small when I look back。 There are many interesting things in a long life； and love for a man is only one among them； which brings me； after all； to the conclusion that the substance of anybody's house is a large price to pay for a single feeling。〃
Christopher leaned over her and held out his arms。
〃It is your bedtime； mothershall I carry you across？〃 he asked； and as the old lady nodded； he lifted her as if she were a child and held her closely against his breast； feeling his tenderness revive at the clasp of her fragile hands。 When he placed her upon her bed； he kissed her good…night and went up the narrow staircase； stooping carefully to avoid the whitewashed ceiling above。
Once in his room； he threw off his coat and sat down upon the side of his narrow bed； glancing contemptuously at his bare brown arms； which showed through the openings in his blue shirt sleeves。 He was still smarting from the memory of the sudden selfconsciousness he had felt downstairs； and a pricking sensitiveness took possession of him； piercing like needles through the boorish indifference he had worn。 All at once he realised that he was ashamed of himselfashamed of his ignorance； his awkwardness； his brutalityand with the shame there awoke the slow