II-XIV

Rutherford Berry and Effie, Barnwell
K. and the delicate Rose, left after
breakfast. Sim drove off behind the
sturdy horse and Mrs. Caley was audibly energetic
in the kitchen. When Gordon appeared on the
porch Lettice was seated in the low rocker that had
so often held Clare. She responded in a suppressed
voice to her husband's salutation. "You
went and spoiled Effie's whole visit," she informed
him, "making Rutherford drunk."

"Why," he protested, "we never; he just got himself
drunk."

"It was mean anyway -- sitting drinking all night
in the stable."

"You'll say I was drunk too next."

"It doesn't matter to you what I say, or what I
go through with. I've stood more than I rightly
ought, more than I'm going to -- you must give me
one thought in a day. You just act low. Father
was self-headed, but he was never real trashy. He
never got into fights at those common camp meetings."

[[234]]

p233 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p234w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p235

v?