would soon follow; whereas to make a mountain of a molehill would be
to put that very mountain between him and me. Nor would I ask him
any questions, lest I should just happen to ask him the wrong one;
for this parishioner of mine evidently wanted careful handling, if I
would do him any good. And it will not do any man good to fling even
the Bible in his face. Nay, a roll of bank-notes, which would be
more evidently a good to most men, would carry insult with it if
presented in that manner. You cannot expect people to accept before
they have had a chance of seeing what the offered gift really is.

After a pause, therefore, the carpenter had once more to recommence,
or let the conversation lie. I stood in a waiting attitude. And
while I looked at him, I was reminded of some one else whom I
knew--with whom, too, I had pleasant associations--though I could
not in the least determine who that one might be.

"It's very foolish of me to talk so to a stranger," he resumed.

"It is very kind and friendly of you," I said, still careful to make
no advances. "And you yourself belong to the old family that once
lived in this old house?"

"It would be no boast to tell the truth, sir, even if it were a
credit to me, which it is not. That family has been nothing but a
curse to ours."

I noted that he spoke of that family as different from his, and yet
implied that he belonged to it. The explanation would come in time.
But the man was again silent, planing away at half the lid of his
sister's coffin. And I could not help thinking that the closed mouth