COMMUTER'S WIFE 139 



sundial was to be placed early in the afternoon with 

 some little bits of sentiment, by way of dedication. 

 The foundation was completed, and the shaft, a sim- 

 ple, rather graceful vase-shaped column, set in posi- 

 tion. Martha came out, and looked solemnly on at 

 a respectful distance, taking no notice of the some- 

 what crookedly admiring glances of Tim ; for Martha 

 is not unattractive, having good hair and a portly 

 freshness not seen among our farming women of 

 fifty or thereabouts. 



Father and Evan were busy with compass and 

 level ; but though the sun shone brightly, the 

 shadow cast by the quaintly wrought brass finger 

 would not fall in the right place. Alack ! the diffi- 

 culty could not be adjusted ; for owing to differences 

 in latitude, an English-born sundial cannot tell 

 New England time. 



Father laughed mischievously as he rallied Evan 

 upon the inadaptability of the race to which he was 

 the exception that merely went to prove the rule. 

 Evan did not laugh, but as he glanced at me, we 

 mutually recognized each other's right of birth, and 

 the dial will stand as a safeguard to remind us to 

 respect each other's patriotism. 



Meanwhile, Martha Corkle gave a suspicious sniff, 

 and remarked, "Crossin' seas don't change the 



