Rhoda was by her side, and she wilfully, without asking leave, went straight over to Mary, and stood with her under the shadow of the Adam and Eve, until the farmer sent a messenger to say that he was about to enter the house.

Her punishment for the act of sinfulness was a week of severe silence; and the farmer would have kept her to it longer, but for her mother's ominously growing weakness.

The sisters were strangely overclouded by this incident.

They could not fathom the meaning of their father's unkindness, coarseness, and indignation.

Why, and why?
they asked one another, blankly.