He Fell In Love With His Wife | Page 9

to do is to change all
that. I know how hard it is for a man, placed as you be, to get decent
help. My wife was a-wondering about it the other day, and I shut her up
mighty sudden by saying, 'You're a good manager, and know all the
country side, yet how often you're a-complaining that you can't get a
girl that's worth her salt to help in haying and other busy times when
we have to board a lot of men.' Well, I won't beat around the bush any
more. I've come to act the part of a good neighbor. There's no use of
you're trying to get along with such haphazard help as you can pick up
here and in town. You want a respectable woman for housekeeper, and
then have a cheap, common sort of a girl to work under her. Now, I
know of just such a woman, and it's not unlikely she'd be persuaded to
take entire charge of your house and dairy. My wife's cousin, Mrs.
Mumpson--" At the mention of this name Holcroft gave a slight start,

feeling something like a cold chill run down his back.
Mr. Weeks was a little disconcerted but resumed, "I believe she called
on your wife once?"
"Yes," the farmer replied laconically. "I was away and did not see her."
"Well, now," pursued Mr. Weeks, "she's a good soul. She has her little
peculiarities; so have you and me, a lot of 'em; but she's thoroughly
respectable, and there isn't a man or woman in the town that would
think of saying a word against her. She has only one child, a nice, quiet
little girl who'd be company for her mother and make everything look
right, you know."
"I don't see what there's been to look wrong," growled the farmer.
"Nothing to me and my folks, of course, or I wouldn't suggest the idea
of a relation of my wife coming to live with you. But you see people
will talk unless you stop their mouths so they'll feel like fools in doing
it. I know yours has been a mighty awkward case, and here's a plain
way out of it. You can set yourself right and have everything looked
after as it ought to be, in twenty-four hours. We've talked to
Cynthy--that's Mrs. Mumpson--and she takes a sight of interest. She'd
do well by you and straighten things out, and you might do a plaguey
sight worse than give her the right to take care of your indoor affairs for
life."
"I don't expect to marry again," said Holcroft curtly.
"Oh, well! Many a man and woman has said that and believed it, too, at
the time. I'm not saying that my wife's cousin is inclined that way
herself. Like enough, she isn't at all, but then, the right kind of
persuading does change women's minds sometimes, eh? Mrs.
Mumpson is kinder alone in the world, like yourself, and if she was
sure of a good home and a kind husband there's no telling what good
luck might happen to you. But there'll be plenty of time for considering
all that on both sides. You can't live like a hermit."
"I was thinking of selling out and leaving these parts," Holcroft
interrupted.
"Now look here, neighbor, you know as well as I do that in these times
you couldn't give away the place. What's the use of such foolishness?
The thing to do is to keep the farm and get a good living out of it.
You've got down in the dumps and can't see what's sensible and to your
own advantage."

Holcroft was thinking deeply, and he turned his eyes wistfully to the
upland slopes of his farm. Mr. Weeks had talked plausibly, and if all
had been as he represented, the plan would not have been a bad one.
But the widower did not yearn for the widow. He did not know much
about her, but had very unfavorable impressions. Mrs. Holcroft had not
been given to speaking ill of anyone, but she had always shaken her
head with a peculiar significance when Mrs. Mumpson's name was
mentioned.
The widow had felt it her duty to call and counsel against the sin of
seclusion and being too much absorbed in the affairs of this world.
"You should take an interest in everyone," this self-appointed
evangelist had declared, and in one sense she lived up to her creed. She
permitted no scrap of information about people to escape her, and was
not only versed in all the gossip of Oakville, but also of several other
localities in which she visited.
But Holcroft had little else to deter him from employing her services
beyond an unfavorable impression. She could not be so bad as Bridget