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an't patch up a peace with Willthe quarrel seems to distress her very much。〃
〃You have seen her； then？〃
〃Yesterday； for a minute。 She stopped me near the store and asked for news of Will。 There was nothing I could tell her except that they dragged along somehow with Sol Peterkin's help。 That's a fine woman； Fletcher or no Fletcher。〃
〃Well； she can't help thatit's merely a question of name。 There's Cynthia calling us to dinner。 We'll have to fill the hogsheads later on。〃
But when the meal was over and he was returning to his work； Cynthia followed him with a message from his mother。
〃She has asked for you all the morning； Christopher； there's something on her mind； though she seems quite herself and in a very lively humour。 It is impossible to get her away from the subject of marriageshe harps on it continually。〃
He had turned to enter the house at her first words； but now his face clouded； and he hung back before the door。
〃Do you think I'd better go in？〃 he asked； hesitating。
〃There's no getting out of it without making her feel neglected； and perhaps your visit may divert her thoughts。 I'm sure I don't see what she has left to say on the subject。〃
〃All right； I'll go；〃 he said cheerfully； 〃but for heaven's sake； help me drum up some fresh topics。〃
Mrs。 Blake was sitting up in bed； sipping a glass of port wine； and at Christopher's step she turned her groping gaze helplessly in his direction。
〃What a heavy tramp you have； my son； you must be almost as large as your father。〃
Crossing the room as lightly as his rude boots permitted； Christopher stooped to kiss the cheek she held toward him。 The old lady had wasted gradually to the shadow of herself； and the firelight from the hearth shone through the unearthly pallor of her face and hands。 Her beautiful white hair was still arranged； over a high cushion； in an elaborate fashion； and her gown of fine embroidered linen was pinned together with a delicate cameo brooch。
〃I have been talking very seriously to Lila；〃 she began at once； as he sat down by the bedside。 〃My age is great； you know； and it is hardly probable that the good Lord will see fit to leave me much longer to enjoy the pleasures of this world。 Now； what troubles me more than all else is that I am to die feeling that the family will pass utterly away。 Is it possible that both Lila and yourself persist in your absurd and selfish determination to remain unmarried？〃
〃Oh； mother！ mother！〃 groaned Lila from the fireplace。
〃You needn't interrupt me； Lila； you know quite well that a family is looked at askance when all of its members remain single。 Surely one old maidand I am quite reconciled to poor Cynthia's spinsterhoodis enough to leaven things； as your father used to say〃
Her memory slipped from her for a moment； she caught at it painfully； and a peevish expression crossed her face。
〃What was I saying； Lila？ I grow so forgetful。〃
〃About father； dear。〃
〃No； no； I remember nowit was about your marrying。 Well； well； as I said before； I fear your attitude is the result of some sentimental fancies you have found in books。 My child； there was never a book yet that held a sensible view of love； and I hope you will pay no attention to what they say。 As for waiting until you can't live without a man before you marry himtut…tut！ the only necessary question is to ascertain if you can possibly live with him。 There is a great deal of sentiment talked in life； my dear； and very little livedand my experience of the world has shown me that one man is likely to make quite as good a husband as anotherprovided he remains a gentleman and you don't expect him to become a saint。 I've had a long marriage； my children； and a happy one。 Your father fell in love with me at his first glance； and he did not hate me at his last； though the period covered an association of thirty years。 We were an ideal couple； all things considered； and he was a very devoted husband； but to this day I have not ceased to be thankful that he was never placed in the position where he had to choose between me and his dinner。 Honestly； I may as well confess among us three； it makes me nervous when I think of the result of such a pass。〃
〃Oh； mother；〃 protested Lila reproachfully； 〃if I listened to you I should never want to marry any man。〃
〃I'm sure I don't see why； my dear。 I have always urged it as a duty； not advised it as a pleasure。 As far as that goes； I hold to this day the highest opinion of matrimony and of men； though I admit； when I consider the attention they require； I sometimes feel that women might select a better object。 When the last word is said； a man is not half so satisfactory a domestic pet as a cat； and far less neat in his habits。 Your poor father would throw his cigar ashes on the floor to the day of his death； and I could never persuade him to use an ash…tray； though I gave him one regularly every Christmas that he lived。 Do you smoke cigars； Christopher？ I detect a strong odour of tobacco about you； and I hope you haven't let Tucker persuade you into using anything so vulgar as a pipe。 The worst effect of a war； I am inclined to believe； is the excuse it offers every man who fought in it to fall into bad habits。〃
〃Oh； it's Uncle Tucker's pipe you smell；〃 replied Christopher； with a laugh； as he rose from his chair。 〃I detest the stuff and always did。〃
〃I suppose I ought to be thankful for it；〃 said Mrs。 Blake； detaining him by a gesture； 〃but I can't help recalling a speech of Micajah Blair's； who said that a woman who didn't flirt and a man who didn't smoke were unsexed creatures。 It is a commendable eccentricity； I suppose； but an eccentricity； good or bad； is equally to be deplored。 Your grandfather always said that the man who was better than his neighbours was quite as unfortunate as the man who was worse。 Who knows but that your dislike of tobacco and your aversion to marriage may result from the same peculiar quirk in your brain？〃
〃Well； it's there and I can't alter it； even to please you； mother；〃 declared Christopher from the door。 〃I've set my face square against them both； and there it stands。〃
He went out laughing； and Mrs。 Blake resigned herself with a sigh to her old port。
The rain fell heavily； whipping up foaming puddles in the muddy road and beating down the old rosebushes in the yard。
As Christopher paused for a moment in the doorway before going to the barn he drew with delight the taste of the dampness into his mouth and the odour of the moist earth into his nostrils。 The world had taken on a new and appealing beauty； and yet the colourless landscape was touched with a sadness which he had never seen in external things until to…day。
His ears were now opened suddenly； his eyes unbandaged； and he heard the rhythmical fall of the rain and saw the charm of the brown fields with a vividness that he had never found in his enjoyment of a summer's day。 Human life also moved him to responsive sympathy； and he felt a great aching tenderness for his blind mother and for his sisters； with their narrowed and empty lives。 His own share in the world； he realised； was but that of a small； insignificant failure； he had been crushed down like a weed in his tobacc