Scrabble 'n' his body in Buttertown, 'n' as if he didn't know whether he
was eatin' pie or putty. Land! I can't bear to watch him. I dassay he
misses Lyddy's jawin',--it must seem dretful quiet. I declare it seems
to me that meek, resigned folks, that's too good to squeal out when
they're abused, is allers the ones that gits the hardest knocks; but I
don't doubt but what there's goin' to be an everlastin' evenupness
somewheres."

Samantha got up suddenly and went to the sink window. "It's 'bout time
the men come in for their dinner," she said. But though Jabe was mowing
the millstone hill, and though he wore a red flannel shirt, she could
not see him because of the tears that blinded her eyes.




SCENE XIII.

_The Village._

PLEASANT RIVER IS BAPTIZED WITH THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION.


"But I didn't come in to talk 'bout the fun'ral," continued Aunt Hitty,
wishing that human flesh were transparent so that she could see through
Samanthy Ann Ripley's back. "I had an errant 'n' oughter ben in afore,
but I've ben so busy these last few days I couldn't find rest for the
sole o' my foot skersely. I've sewed in seven dif'rent houses sence I
was here last, and I've made it my biz'ness to try 'n' stop the gossip
'bout them children 'n' give folks the rights o' the matter, 'n' git 'em