A COMPOSITE FAMILY 267 



nor shame you, and it will please her. As for 

 the rest, we must think it out, but this is enough 

 to start with ; and there is no need of making a 

 mystery of the fact that you have a granddaughter 

 who wishes to join the Society of the Daughters 

 of the Revolution, for that is a matter as well un- 

 derstood among these hills as elsewhere. Have 

 the papers ready the next time I come, and that 

 1 fidgety young lady ' with the flowery hat will 

 gladly print and decorate them for you, I am 

 sure." 



"There 's nobody like womenfolks for either 

 scenting out trouble or curing it," said Time o' 

 Year, a more peaceful expression replacing the 

 pained one which his face had worn. "And as 

 you say, backed by Scripter, as it were, mending 

 part of the evil is sufficient for one day and a part 

 of the lie can be eased up without sharing it." 



"Yes, and another part, too, and honestly; for 

 do you remember that you were living in the farm- 

 house and not the cabin when Ephraim went away? 

 He knew nothing about that ; so in his loneliness 

 he must have looked back at his home and mother 

 until its comforts and grandeur seemed far greater 

 than they were, the fields broader and the hill- 

 crest it stood on far higher. Perhaps, dear old 



