Susan had been a little nettled by her husband's implied belief that
she was influenced by the minister, so there was double resolution,
as well as some offence in her reply, that she knew her duty as a
wife too well to consent to such a thing without him. As to his
being careless, he was a true and God-fearing man, and Mr,
Heatherthwayte should know better than to speak thus of him to his
wife.

Mr. Heatherthwayte's real piety and goodness had made him a great
comfort to Susan in her lonely grief, but he had not the delicate
tact of gentle blood, and had not known where to stop, and as he
stood half apologising and half exhorting, she felt that her Richard
was quite right, and that he could be both meddling and presuming.
He was exceedingly in the way of her packing too, and she was at her
wit's end to get rid of him, when suddenly Humfrey managed to pinch
his fingers in a box, and set up such a yell, as, seconded by the
frightened baby, was more than any masculine ears could endure, and
drove Master Heatherthwayte to beat a retreat.

Mistress Susan was well on in her work when her husband returned, and
as she expected, was greatly overcome by the tidings of his brother's
death. He closely questioned Nathanael on every detail, and could
think of nothing but the happy days he had shared with his brother,
and of the grief of his parents. He approved of all that his wife
had done; and as the damage sustained by the Mastiff could not be
repaired under a month, he had no doubt about leaving his crew in the
charge of his lieutenant while he took his family home.

So busy were both, and so full of needful cares, the one in giving up
her lodging, the other in leaving his men, that it was impossible to