This resolution punished the unoffending members of the family as severely as Jessup himself; but it is a common result that the innocent many must suffer for the guilty unit,—justice generally dealing in the gross. The old man’s lower jaw fell, dismayed at the deprivation. He had relinquished sorting his “lumber,” and had roused himself to listen and note. The details would long serve him for meditation, and would gradually combine in his recollection in dull mental pictures to dwell on hereafter, and to solace much lonely vacant time. Mrs. Sayles was irritated. Alethea had looked to hear something from Mink, and Jessup was unexpectedly balked. Nothing could be more complete than Mrs. Jessup’s triumph, as she held her tongue,—having her reason. Her blue eyes were bright with a surface gleam, as it were; there was a good deal of fresh color in her face. She was neater than usual, having been “smartened up ter meet the folks in the cove.” Her snuff-brush, however, was very much at home in the corner of an exceedingly pretty mouth. As they all sat before the fire, she took off the socks which Aunt Dely had lent her, and which she had worn up the mountain over her shoes, because of the snow; and she could not altogether refrain from remark. “Ef these hyar socks hedn’t been loant ter me,” she said, holding one of them aloft, “I couldn’t holp noticin’ how Mis’ Purvine turned them heels, knittin’ ’em. I do declar’, ef these hyar socks fits Jerry Price, he hev got a foot shaped like Buck’s, an’ no mistake.” It jumped with her idle humor to keep them all waiting, uncertain whether or not she would relent and disclose the meagre gossip they pined to hear. Nothing was developed till Jacob Jessup, retaliating in turn, flatly refused to go and feed Buck, still harnessed in the wagon. Alethea rose indignantly. “I don’t lay off ter do yer work ginerally, but I ain’t goin’ ter let the steer go hongry,” she said, “’kase ye air idle an’ onfeelin’.” “Don’t ye let him go hongry, then,” said Jessup, provokingly.