On his way to lunch, he stopped at the woodpile to get an armful of
kindling for Mrs. Bade. The sober way she looked at him as he came in,
hid from all but herself the almost voluptuous pleasure it gave her
merely to be waited on, a pleasure she was more than half afraid to
enjoy, for fear at jealous heaven might take it away, and leave her
with all her work to do, and bad habits besides.
Therefore, as she ladled out potatoes, two to a plate, she seemed, to
look at her, busier than ever; and far from being grateful, might have
been used to favors every day of her life, whereas all the while she
was saying ecstatically to herself, "Lord, make me humble."
For she saw in Mr. Jeminy all she had fancied as a girl, and lost hope
in as a woman. Life . . . life was, then, to be had--leastways, a view
of it, a good view of it--was to be heard of, by special act of Grace,
on Bade's Farm, at Adams' Forge--of all places. So she dressed in her
neatest, and was kinder than ever to Aaron, who was missing it. For
she felt it was all just for her; she alone saw Mr.
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