troubled spirit and, as the singer lady and Mother escorted the
escort down the walk, he slipped away into his office for an hour
before supper with his reports and microscope.

A half hour later Mother Mayberry came into his office for the
little chat she often took the time for just before the summons to
supper. She seated herself by the open window, through which the
twilight was creeping, and he threw down his pen and came and stood
leaning against the casement.

"Well," she said with a long breath of contentment, "well, I do feel
about ready to get ready to rest. The Pikeses is all in, I heard
Bettie Pratt calling in the Turners and Pratts and Hoovers, Buck
have come home to supper on time, as I know will relieve Hettie
Ann's mind, Squire Tutt just went in the front gate as I come up the
walk and I seen Mis' Bostick light the lamp in the Deacon's study
from my kitchen window a minute ago. They ain't nothing in the world
that makes me so contented as to know that all Providence is a-
setting down to meals at the same time and a-feeding together as one
family, though in different houses. The good Lord will get all the
rendered thanks at the same time and I feel it will please Him--ours
is late on account of Elinory deciding at the last minute to beat up
some clabber cheese with fresh cream for your supper, like she says
they fix it up over in Europe somewhere she lived while she was a-
studying to sing. I come on out so she could have a swing to herself
and not think anybody was a-hurrying of her. It's a riled woman as
generally answers the call of hurry and I never gives it, lessen
it's life or death or a chicken-hawk."

"But, Mother," remonstrated the Doctor with a very real distress in