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Now while he was firing away wearily at this fortress, which held, he thought, the deepest secret of his life, Hepsy Ann sat in her pantry, her serene soul troubled by unwonted fears. Captain Elijah Nickerson had sailed out in his stanch schooner in earliest spring, for the Banks.
For every half-idle hour Lucy had enjoyed during the winter she had to atone now; for Aunt Hepsy kept her sweeping, and scouring, and dusting, and trotting upstairs and down, till the girl's strength almost failed her. She did not complain, however, and Aunt Hepsy was too much absorbed to see that her powers were overtaxed.
Jean listened to the faint creaking of old boards which told her that he was approaching Hepsy's room, and she wondered if Hepsy would hear him. Hepsy did hear him. There was a squeak of the old bedstead that told how a hundred and seventy-two pounds of indignant womanhood was rising to do battle. "Who's that? Git outa here, or I'll smash you!"
Anyhow, Miry she says to me one day says she, 'Sam, you're up round the post-office a good deal, says she. 'I wish, if you see any letters for me, you'd jest bring 'em along. I see right into it, and I told her to be sure I would; and so I used to have the carryin' of great thick letters every week. Wal, I was waitin' on Hepsy along about them times, and so Miry and I kind o' sympathized.
"In about a month or so, I guess, you'll begin to think about getting up," she said; and again something in Aunt Hepsy's face set Lucy wondering what was different about her. There was a short silence, then Aunt Hepsy laid down her knitting, and took both Lucy's thin hands in her firm clasp. "Lucy, do you think ye can ever forgive yer old aunt?" she said suddenly and quickly.
She went downstairs immediately, and despatched the boy for Dr. Gair. During his absence, she endeavoured to induce Lucy to take some breakfast, but in vain. "I'm real sick, Aunt Hepsy," she said. "Just let me lie still. I don't want anything but just to be quiet." Within the hour Dr. Gair came to Thankful Rest, for Miss Hepsy's message had been urgent.
"Yes, I suppose I do, but that can't be helped; a promise is a promise." "Who is to prevent it?" he exclaimed impatiently. "I say it shall be helped." There was not time for further rhapsodies. Aunt Hepsy appeared with a telegram, calling Daisy home; and home she went next day, leaving Mr. John Smith in despair. In vain he laid siege to Aunt Hepzibah and Uncle Reuben; they could not help him.
"I'll go up to Thankful Rest to-morrow and extract permission from Miss Hepsy," said Carrie, "though I am not very hopeful of the result. Come, Frank, we must be off; it is nearly eight." "You will let us know on Sunday, then, if they can come," said Miss Keane; and with cordial good-nights the friends parted.
Josh, find summat for the boy to do; 'tain't no use hevin' him 'round idle lookin' for mischief." "Come along to the barn then, What's-yer-name," said Uncle Josh, picking up his hat and sauntering to the door. "Don't be too hard on that little 'un, Hepsy; she don't look over strong." "Mind yer own business, will ye, Josh Strong," was Miss Hepsy's smart rejoinder. "I guess I'm able to mind mine."
"I don't feel easy in my mind, Josh," she said when she re-entered the kitchen. "I'm feared we've been rayther hard on Hetty's children. She never did us any harm." "Did I say she did, Hepsy?" asked Uncle Josh, serenely puffing away at his pipe. "You was allus the worst at her and at the children. Ye put upon that Lucy in a perfectly awful way."
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