"It’s best for ’em if they only knowed it," said one brown, withered old woman, shaking her head grimly and cynically over her pipe. "Neither life nor men air what we ’low they air, when we er young. These young fo’ks air separated while their love is warm an’ frush, an’ without discoverin’ that it ain’t goin’ to last ferever, an’ that no human creetur is without a mighty load o’ faults. I can recollect more’n one couple that ’peared lack they’d die broken-hearted if they didn’t git married, an’ then in a little while, ’peared lack they’d die because they wus married. There ain’t no countin’ on human natur, I can tell you. It’s about the oncertaintest thing in this world ’ceptin’ death." Sile Ed’ards had to learn a new lesson in this uncertain human nature that summer, when those who in former times seemed to care most for his counsel turned impatiently away from his entreaties for peace. His words fell to the ground, and he carried a sorely troubled and heavy heart about with him, and spent more time than ever in the solitude of Bush Mountain, fasting and praying for his erring flock, who seemed to enjoy the excitement of a quarrel far more than they did the peaceable worship of the Lord; who brought sounds of strife to the very altar rails, more than one meeting having ended in bitter words. The material prosperity of Laurel Cove was not in the least affected by the evil spirit apparently ruling the people. The corn-fields promised an abundant harvest, and the orchards were rich in fruits. Mrs. Harding was an industrious woman, toiling early and late, and her hours of repose were, in the main, peaceful, though she rose sometimes in the middle of the night and crept softly to Sarah Betsy’s bed to see that she also slept; for her heart yearned secretly over this disobedient daughter who had lost her bright, cheerful ways since John Hurd went away from the Cove. She suffered almost as much as the girl, though they said little to each other about it. Once Mrs. Harding did attempt to reason with Sarah Betsy, but she turned and said: "Didn’t you love Pa?" "Didn’t I? There wusn’t many men to equal your pa." "In your eyes, Ma, but maybe not in the eyes o’ them what didn’t love him. Love makes a mighty difference in the way we look at fo’ks. I ’low ever’ woman thinks the man she loves is the best in the world."