If the man had not been a Regular minister, or if he had been a minister in any other town than narrow, gossiping, squabbling Trumet, where families were divided on "religious" grounds, neighbors did not speak because their creeds were different, and even after death were buried in cemeteries three miles apart; if the girl had been other than the ward of bigoted old Eben Hammond--then, though they were poor as poverty itself, Keziah would have joined their hands and rejoiced.

Even as it was, she was strongly tempted to do it.

Her sense of right and her every inclination urged her toward that course.

"Face the world together and fight it out," that was the advice she would like to give them.

But no, the battle was too uneven.