'Pawliney!' called her father, in the querulous accents of one whose brain is weakening. 'Pawliney, I wish you'd come down and sing a little, the house is terrible lonesome since mother's gone.' And Pauline sang, in her full, sweet tones:-- '"God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform."' 'God is good, Pawliney?' 'Yes, father.' 'He never makes mistakes?' 'Oh, no, father.' 'You believe that, Pawliney?' 'Yes, yes, I know it, father.' And her voice rang out triumphantly in another stanza:-- '"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace: Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face."' _Chapter X_ THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE 'Here's the mortgage money, Pawliney,' said Stephen, as he handed her a roll of bank-notes. 'It's not due for a month yet, but I'll be away for a week at the Bend, and if father gets hold of it he'll take it to make matches of, as like as not. You'd better stow it away somewheres till the time comes.' 'Very well, Stephen, I'll put it in my strong box, and carry the key in my pocket. You won't be away at the Bend any longer than you can help, Stephen? It's such a comfort to have you in the house.' They were standing by the light waggon, which Lemuel had brought round from the barn, ready for Stephen's journey. 'Don't know about the comfort part, Pawliney,' said Stephen, with a queer choke in his voice. 'Seems like as if we all depended on you for that commodity. But I'll be as quick as I kin. Good-bye, all of you. Git along, Goliath.' Three days had passed since his departure, and Pauline stood in the doorway feasting her eyes on the lights and shadows which grouped themselves about the distant hills, when Lemuel brushed past her, clad in his Sunday best. 'Why, Lemuel!' she cried astonished, 'you haven't had your supper yet. Where are you going?' 'To China,' was the brusque response. 'I've hed enuff of Sleepy Hollow, an' bein' ordered round by an old man with his head in the moon. It's "Lemuel, do this," an' before I git started it's "Lemuel, do the t'other thing." You kin stand it ef you're a mind ter; I won't.' 'But, Lemuel!' gasped Pauline, 'what will Stephen say?' 'I don't care what he says,' said the boy roughly. 'Stephen ain't my boss.' 'Oh, Lemuel, you can't mean it!' cried Pauline, as she followed him down the path to the main road. 'See if I don't!' And he strode away from her, and vaulted over the gate. 'But what will father do?' 'Git somebody that's ez loony ez himself. I ain't,' was the jeering reply. 'Lemuel, you mustn't go, it will kill father!' and Pauline stretched out her hands to him appealingly. A mocking laugh was the only reply as he disappeared round a bend of the road. Pauline went slowly back to the house feeling bruised and stunned.