his and filled it, too. The idea of stepping over, sitting beside her, and
holding her in, was inexpressibly repugnant to him. So he began talking to
her, and finally shouting at her, to keep her awake.

His efforts were useless. He glanced with rueful dismay over his shoulder as
he thought, "If she falls out, I don't see how on earth I'll ever get her back
again."

Fortunately the seat slipped back a little, and she soon slid down into a sort
of mountainous heap on the bottom of the wagon, as unmindful of the rain as if
it were a lullaby. Now that his mind was at rest about her falling out, and
knowing that he had a heavy load, Holcroft let the horses take their own time
along the miry highway.

Left to her own devices by Holcroft's absence, Mrs. Mumpson had passed what
she regarded as a very eventful afternoon and evening. Not that anything
unusual had happened, unless everything she said and did may be looked upon as
unusual; but Mrs. Mumpson justly felt that the critical periods of life are
those upon which definite courses of action are decided upon. In the secret
recess of her heart--supposing her to possess such an organ--she had partially
admitted to herself, even before she had entered Holcroft's door, that she
might be persuaded into marrying him; but the inspection of his room, much
deliberate thought, and prolonged soliloquy, had convinced her that she ought
to "enter into nuptial relations," as her thought formulated itself. It was a
trait of Mrs. Mumpson's active mind, that when it once entered upon a line of
thought, it was hurried along from conclusion to conclusion with wonderful
rapidity.

While Jane made up Mr. Holcroft's bed, her mother began to inspect, and soon
suffered keenly from every painful discovery. The farmer's meager wardrobe