She had never found it necessary to counter his wishes before.

But this idea of selling the farm cut to the very roots of her life.
For Nance's sake and Bernel's she must oppose it with all that was in her.

If the farm were sold the money would all go into those gaping black mouths and bottomless pits at Port Gorey.

The home would be broken up--an end of all things.

It must not be.
"I should think many times before selling the farm if I were you," she said quietly, and left it there for the moment.
But old Tom, having made up his mind, and the necessities of the case pressing, lost no time over the matter.
"I've been speaking to John Guille about that business," he said, next day, in a confidently casual way.
"About-- ?" "About the farm.