form of activity was her chief characteristic. Wherever she went she took the
ground that she was "company," and with a shawl hanging over her sharp,
angular shoulders, she would seize upon the most comfortable rocking chair in
the house, and mouse for bits of news about everyone of whom she had ever
heard. She was quite as ready to tell all she knew also, and for the sake of
her budget of gossip and small scandal, her female relatives tolerated her
after a fashion for a time; but she had been around so often, and her scheme
of obtaining subsistence for herself and child had become so offensively
apparent, that she had about exhausted the patience of all the kith and kin on
whom she had the remotest claim. Her presence was all the more unwelcome by
reason of the faculty for irritating the men of the various households which
she invaded. Even the most phlegmatic or the best-natured lost their
self-control, and as their wives declared, "felt like flying all to pieces" at
her incessant rocking, gossiping, questioning, and, what was worse still,
lecturing. Not the least endurable thing about Mrs. Mumpson was her peculiar
phase of piety. She saw the delinquencies and duties of others with such
painful distinctness that she felt compelled to speak of them; and her zeal
was sure to be instant out of season.

When Mr. Weeks had started on his ominous mission to Holcroft his wife
remarked to her daughter confidentially, "I declare, sis, if we don't get rid
of Cynthy soon, I believe Lemuel will fly off the handle."

To avoid any such dire catastrophe, it was hoped and almost prayed in the
Weeks household that the lonely occupant of the hill farm would take the widow
for good and all.


Chapter III. Mrs. Mumpson Negotiates and Yields