as if she suspected she did not understand aright.

"No, you ain't," returned Jerome.

"What do you mean?"

"You ain't goin' in to see my mother this mornin'."

"Why not, I'd like to know?"

"She's got to be kept still and not see anybody but us, or she'll be
sick."

"I guess it won't hurt her any to see me." Paulina Maria turned
herself sidewise, thrust out a sharp elbow, and prepared to force
herself betwixt Jerome and the door-post like a wedge.

"You stand back!" said Jerome, and fixed his eyes upon her face.

Paulina Maria turned pale. "What do you mean, actin' so?" she said,
again. "Did your mother tell you not to let me in?"

"Mother's got to be kept still and not see anybody but us, or she'll
be sick. I ain't goin' to have anybody come talkin' to her to-day,"
said Jerome, with his eyes still fixed upon Paulina Maria's face.

Paulina Maria was like a soldier whose courage is invincible in all
tried directions. Up to all the familiar and registered batteries of
life she could walk without flinching, and yield to none; but here
was something new, which savored perchance of the uncanny, and a