“I don’t know how you’ve stood it, bein’ there in the office with him, and I told him so.  He’s got a red-headed boy from the Ridge in there now, and I think maybe the Judge will get what’s comin’ to him before he gets through.  I’ve learned not to trifle with anybody what has red hair, but seemin’ly the Judge ain’t.  It takes some folks a long time to learn.

“Barbara’s goin’ to the city, too, to spend the Winter with that Miss Wynne in the cottage that’s under the same roof with other cottages and the bedrooms off the kitchen.  I don’t know how Barbara’ll take to washin’ in the sink, when she’s always had that rose-sprigged bowl and pitcher of her ma’s, but it’s her business, not mine, and if she wants to go, she can.

[Sidenote:  “Me and Miriam”]

“Me and Miriam’ll set together evenings and keep each other from bein’ lonesome.  She ain’t much more company than a cow, as far as talkin’ goes, but there’s a feelin,’ some way, about another person bein’ in the house, when the wind gets to howlin’ down the chimney.  We may arrange to have supper together, once in a while, and in case of severe weather, put the two fires goin’ in one house, which ever’s the warmest.

“I don’t know what we shall do, for we ain’t talked it over much yet, but with church twice on Sunday and prayer-meetin’ Wednesday evenings, and the sewin’ circle on Friday, and two New York papers every week, and Miriam, and all your pa’s books to prop up against the lamp, I don’t reckon I’ll get so dreadful lonesome.  I’ve thought some of gettin’ myself a cat.  There’s somethin’ mighty comfortable and heartenin’ about a cup of hot tea and the sound of purrin’ close by.  And on the Spring excursion to the city, I reckon I’ll come up and see you, if I don’t have no more pain in my back.”

[Sidenote:  Dr. Conrad’s Automobile]

“I’d love to have you come, Mother, and I’d do all I could to give you a good time.  I know the others would, too.  Doctor Conrad has an automobile and——­”

Miss Mattie became deeply concerned.  “Is he treatin’ himself for it?” she demanded.

“I don’t think so,” answered Roger, choking back a laugh.

“It beats all,” mused Miss Mattie.  “They say the shoemaker’s children never have shoes, and it seems that doctors have diseases just like other folks.  I disremember of havin’ heard of this, but I know from my own experience that a disease with only one word to it can be dreadful painful.  Is it catchin’?”

“Not with full speed on,” replied Roger.  “An automobile is very hard to catch.”

“Well, see that you don’t take it,” cautioned Miss Mattie.  The first part of his answer was obscure, but she was not one to pause over an uninteresting detail.

“You’ve warned me about almost everything now, Mother,” he said, smiling.  “Is there anything else?”

“Nothing but matrimony, and that’s included under the head of designing females.  I shouldn’t want you to get married.”