Then word came that he was dead, drowned off in the East Indies somewheres.

I come back here to keep house for Sol, my brother, and I kept house for him till he died and they offered me this place here at the parsonage.

There! that's my story, part of it, more'n I ever told a livin' soul afore, except Sol." She ceased speaking.

The minister, who had sat silent by the window, apathetically listening or trying to listen, turned his head.
"I apologize, Mrs.Coffin," he said dully, "you have had trials, hard ones.

But--" "But they ain't as hard as yours, you think?
Well, I haven't quite finished yet.