Cochrane said into her own speech, and regarded him as the
prophet of a new era. But Cochrane's last 'revelations' differed
from the first, and were of the earth, earthy. My mother's pure
soul must have revolted, but she was not strong enough to drag
father from his allegiance. Mother was of better family than
father, but they were both well educated and had the best
schooling to be had in their day. So far as I can judge, mother
always had more 'balance' than father, and much better
judgment,--yet look at her now!"

"Then you think it was your father's disappearance that really
caused her mind to waver? " asked Waitstill.

"I do, indeed. I don't know what happened between them in the way
of religious differences, nor how much unhappiness these may have
caused. I remember she had an illness when we first came here to
live and I was a little chap of three or four, but that was
caused by the loss of a child, a girl, who lived only a few
weeks. She recovered perfectly, and her head was as clear as mine
for a year or two after father went away. As his letters grew
less frequent, as news of him gradually ceased to come, she
became more and more silent, and retired more completely into
herself. She never went anywhere, nor entertained visitors,
because she did not wish to hear the gossip and speculation that
were going on in the village. Some of it was very hard for a wife
to bear, and she resented it indignantly; yet never received a
word from father with which to refute it. At this time, as nearly
as I can judge, she was a recluse, and subject to periods of
profound melancholy, but nothing worse. Then she took that winter
journey to her sister's deathbed, brought home the boy, and,