Judith's  been  sore  tried,  whenever  Marcy's  took  it  into
her  head  to  work  her  granpap.  'Tis  a  shame  for  my
uncle  to  turn  sour  on  Judith,  who's  managed  the  Tavern
and  took  care  of  him  into  the  bargain  for  years.  No
wonder  my  cousin's  wore  out  putting  up  with  sass  and
disobedience  from  a  youngster,  whose  mother  cheated
her  out  of  a  husband.  'Taint  'cording  to  nature  that  she
should  be  fond  of  Marcy,  although  she'd  done  for  her  like
her  own  child.  When  it  came  about  that  the  squire 'sold
sister  was  worse  nor  common  with  her  spells,  some  one
had  to  stay  with  her.  Judith  'lowed  'twould  be  a  lesson
for  the  girl,  and,  in  spite  of  her  father's  objections,  she
had  her  own  way  for  once.  Of  course,  my  cousin
couldn't  leave  the  Tavern  herself,  and  besides,  she  hopes
to  teach  Marcy  a  little  gratitude  and  industry."

"That  all  sounds  like  gospel,  but  to  my  mind  Jude
Ogilvie'll  get  her  pay,"  Nan  declared  stoutly.  "Just


28  THE   BROAD  AISLE.
think  of  a  poor  young  thing  likeMarcy  O'Connell  staying
alone  "with  old  Hulda  at  night.  It  gives  me  the  shivers
to  see  her  crooked  mouth  in  the  daytime.  People  round
about  Clear  Creek  say  she  rides  a  regular  critter  in  her
sleep  and  yells  till  she's  heard  a  mile  away."

"Some  people  in  Clear  Creek,  as  well  as  some  in  Eich-
field,  think  they  know  it  all, "Mrs.  Sutton  replied  erush-
ingly.  As  she  spoke  she  walked  away  in  the  direction  of
the  Tavern.
