The Spinster Book

ift o

f the attic, where fragrant herbs swayed back and forth in ghostly fashion, to the tiled kitchen, wh

position among its neighbours on that account, though the owner, not having spent her entire life in East Lancaster, was conside

in the uniform of the Colonies, had been presented by General Washington himself, in recognition of conspicuous bravery upon the field. Lovers had led their sweethearts along the hall at twilight, to whisper that their portraits, too, should some day hang there, side by side. Soldiers of Fortune who had found their leader fickle had taken fresh courage from the set lips of the gallant gentlemen in the great hall. Women whose hearts were breaking had looked up to the painted and powdered dames along the windin

ulder line that had been famous in three counties when she was the belle of the countryside. For the rest, she was much the same. Let the artist make the brown hair snowy white, change the girlish bloom to the tint of a faded pink rose, draw around the eyes and the mouth a few tiny time-tracks, which, after all, were

s saying, in her high, sweet voice, "will you kindly take the spade and dig until you can dig no more? I am well aware that it is like hitching Pegasu

awkwardly. "I know what you're thinking of,

e the front yard myself, and the beds here shall be equally divided among you

vegetables,

idelong glance at him which sent the blood to

hings as I can get in without crowding. I may change my mind about t

othing more. I love the sw

melons, peas, asparagus,"

ss you rent a vacant acre or two. The seeds are

nd that's what we're all looking for. Besides, judging from the various scornful remarks which have been thought,

t that done, I'll tell you what to do next. Come, Margaret,

etched hand, and cooing soft murmurs of content. The white dove was perched upon her shoulder, not at all disturbed

on't want any of your ol

fortu

t all-I don't believe t

s quite in the n

hed upon her other shoulder, and Lynn straightened himself

d lips, and Lynn noted that the sheen on the pigeon's breast was like the gleam from her blue-black hair, where the sun shone upon it. She had a great mass of it, which she wore coil

actising," said I

hould

't nee

y n

going to play w

, Ir

ch frightened away both pigeons, "you didn't like the way I p

what she had said when he criticise

another before lunch. I can get in the other two before dark,

ked me properly

nt phrases, asked Miss Temple f

iged to refuse. I'm going to make some

r the

want me as much as that, I'l

leanliness which was not merely a lack of dust and dirt, but a positive quality. When the old lady's keen eyes, reinforced by h

h preserves, made amber and crimson jellies, huge jars of spiced fruits, and brewed ten different kinds of home-made wine. Then, and not till then, Iris got the womanly idea which was beneath it all. Perception came slowly, but at length she found herself in a beautiful comradeship with Aunt Peace. For sheer love of the

n and took out the seeds, "this means that if you like it

at least, she had opened the way to the Fortunate Isles, where one's daily work is on

rly rows upon the shelves, delighting in the unnameable freshness made by wind and sun; sniffed appreciatively at the cedar chest which stood in a

ept the silver shining. "A gentlewoman," Aunt Peace had said, "will always be independent o

were capable and strong, yet soft and white. As we learn to love the things we take care of, s

ervant. Now, at seventy-five, she had grudgingly admitted one maid into her sanctum, but some of the work still fe

ady could not have had a retinue of servants at her command, but had it been useless after all? Rem

pen to be, in whatever station of life God may be pleased to place you after I am gone, you have one thing which cannot be taken away from you-the power to make for yourself a home. You will be

to Margaret Irving. It was apropos of a book written by a member of the shrieking sisterhood

ers. All the work in the world is directly and immediately undertaken for the maintenance and betterment of the home. A woman who has no love for it is unsexed. God probably kn

h a girlish note in it. For a long time s

erms of its decay.' You need have no fear, Aunt Peace; the home will stand. This single ho

after a pause, "they bu

the house seemed peopled with friendly ghosts, whose memories and loves still lived. Because she had recently come from a

I have always felt that this

, and his will, made long before I was born, had not been changed. So what was more natural than for my mother to have the

aret, and your mother was cut off i

, "she was. But I thin

a short visit just after you were married. The house had been closed for a long time. She took you away with her, and

s, but Margaret made none, and

ed of an answer. "I remember that when I was here I yearned over you just as I did over Iris sev

now, when perhaps I need it even more than I did then. All y

way, when I am through with it, this house goes

s throbbed with the joy of possession, then

Miss Field went on. "She is my own dea

screaming, with Lynn in full pursuit. Mrs. Irving went to

matter?" aske

something in his fingers th

ris is afrai

ut and spe

h asks no greater privilege than to fight its own battles. It is

eautiful gift of the gods, which we nev

fingers clasped my first rose, to the night you and Lynn came to bring more sunshine into my old life. I call it my Necklace of Perfect Joy. When the world goes wrong, I have only to close my eyes and remember all the links in my chain, set with gems, some large

after an understanding silen

"I may be wrong," she said, "but I have always felt that it