There were many apple-trees behind the stone-walls that bordered the
wood. The soft blooming branches looked strangely incongruous in the
keen air. The western sky was clear and yellow, and there were a few
reefs of violet cloud along it. Barnabas looked up at the apple
blossoms over his head, and wondered if there would be a frost. From
their apple orchard came a large share of the Thayer income, and
Barnabas was vitally interested in such matters now, for he was to be
married the last of June to Charlotte Barnard. He often sat down with
a pencil and slate, and calculated, with intricate sums, the amounts
of his income and their probable expenses. He had made up his mind
that Charlotte should have one new silk gown every year, and two new
bonnets--one for summer and one for winter. His mother had often
noted, with scorn, that Charlotte Barnard wore her summer bonnet with
another ribbon on it winters, and, moreover, had not had a new bonnet
for three years.

"She looks handsomer in it than any girl in town, if she hasn't,"
Barnabas had retorted with quick resentment, but he nevertheless felt
sensitive on the subject of Charlotte's bonnet, and resolved that she
should have a white one trimmed with gauze ribbons for summer, and
one of drawn silk, like Rebecca's, for winter, only the silk should
be blue instead of pink, because Charlotte was fair.

Barnabas had even pondered with tender concern, before he bought his
fine flowered satin waistcoat, if he might not put the money it would
cost into a bonnet for Charlotte, but he had not dared to propose it.
Once he had bought a little blue-figured shawl for her, and her
father had bade her return it.

"I ain't goin' to have any young sparks buyin' your clothes while you