"Why not? 'Tis less than human of Joe to keep you moiling Sunday morning. I've told him so for that matter." "But he always comes himself," said Susan, "and he likes his dinner uncommon well Sunday." Melinda shook her head. "'Tis no good being religious if we won't let other people be," she answered. "Your soul did ought to be more to your father than a hot Sunday dinner." The gaunt woman smiled. "Well, here I be to-day anyway; and the walk, which Mr. Palk kindly allowed me to take along with him, have rested me wonderful." "Very proud I'm sure," said Thomas. They returned together after the service, and Mrs. Honeysett could not fail to notice that Susan's adventure had done her good. For a time her anxious eyes harboured a little rest. But her Sunday gown did not please Melinda. "You ought to get yourself a new dress and a thicker jacket," she declared. "You could put your finger through that old thing and the moths be got in the neck of it." "I hardly ever want go-to-meeting clothes," explained Susan, and the other woman grew mildly indignant. "You be so meek as a worm, Soosie-Toosie. No doubt a very Christian virtue; but it do make me a thought wild off and on. Not a word against your father, of course, but a man's a man, and 'tis their nature to put on us; and 'tis our duty to see they don't. You've got to watch the best of 'em like a cat watches a mouse, else they'll come between you and your rights. The creatures can't help it. They be built so, like all the other male things. It's deep in 'em; and we've got to get it out. Why, I'll flare out against my own father, love him as I do, and a bed-lier though he is, if I find he's forgetting I'm flesh and blood and thinking I'm a machine. Once let 'em think we're machines and it's good-bye to our self-respect for evermore. We're no more machines than they be." Mr. Palk nodded vigorously to himself at these sentiments, but he did not speak. "I know my place," said Susan. "That's just what you do not, and you'll make me cross in a minute and undo the good of church. You're a reasonable creature, ain't you?" "I hope so, Melinda." "You've got a soul, ain't you?" "I believe so. It's a poor come-along-of-it if I haven't." Susan looked almost frightened. "Very well then, act according. You wouldn't cling after the next world so frantic if you was having a better time in this one. That's cause and effect, that is, as my father would tell you. It's your feeling for getting back a bit of your own after you be dead. If your Maker had meant you to be a donkey and a beast of burden, He'd have made you one." "We're taught to bear other people's burdens, my dear." "Yes, but we ain't taught to do other people's work--not if they can do it themselves." "I only do my own work, Melinda."