Now, there's Mis' Holly--she's tried ter smooth 'em, I'll warrant, lots of times.

But I'm free ter say she hain't never so much as clipped a ravelin' in all them forty years they've lived tergether.

Fact is, it's worked the other way with her.

All that HER rubbin' up ag'in' them seams has amounted to is ter git herself so smoothed down that she don't never dare ter say her soul's her own, most generally,--anyhow, not if he happens ter intermate it belongs ter anybody else!" Jack Gurnsey suddenly choked over a cough.
"I wish I could--do something," he murmured uncertainly.
"'T ain't likely ye can--not so long as Mr.an' Mis' Holly is on their two feet.

Why, there ain't nothin' they won't do, an' you'll believe it, maybe, when I tell you that yesterday Mr.Holly, he tramped all through Sawyer's woods in the rain, jest ter find a little bit of moss that the boy was callin' for.