After that night the widow’s mouth shut together more firmly than ever, and the frown between her eyes was more marked and decided, while her manner to all save Isaac and Annie Graham was sharper, and crisper than before. When Eli’s letter came telling of his promotion and lauding Jimmie Carleton, whose generous act was a by-word in the company, her face relaxed a little, and she said to Annie Graham: “The Lord is good to my two oldest boys, but if he’d give me Isaac I wouldn’t care for all the titles in Christendom.” As the warm weather came on, Isaac did not get up any more to sit by the open door, but lay all day on his bed, sometimes sleeping, sometimes thinking, and sometimes listening while Annie read to him from the Bible. Isaac was very fond of Annie. She had been George Graham’s wife, and he evinced so much desire to have her constantly with him that at last she stayed altogether with Mrs. Simms, only going occasionally to the Mather Mansion, where they missed her so much. Rose was nothing without her, and had at first opposed her going to the Widow Simms. “If help was needed,” she said, “she would hire some one, for Annie must not tire herself out just as she was beginning to grow plump and beautiful again.” But when Isaac said to her: “Please let Mrs. Graham come; it will not be long she’ll have to stay, and she is so full of hope and faith that it makes me more willing to die and to go away alone across the Jordan,” she withdrew her opposition, and Annie was free to go and come as she liked. It suited Annie to get away from the Mather Mansion just then, for she could not help feeling that there was a purpose in Mrs. Carleton’s questioning her of her early history, and she hailed any excuse which removed her from the scrutiny with which since that conversation touching her early home and maiden name Mrs. Carleton had evidently regarded her. Jimmie had written to her once, inclosing the unsealed note in a letter to Rose, and Annie’s cheeks had been all ablaze as she read it, for she knew the mother’s eyes were fastened upon her. It was nothing but a simple acknowledgment of some article Annie had made and sent to him in a box filled for all three of the soldiers, Will Mather, Tom and Jimmie. There was also mention made of Annie’s kindly message, to the intent that she did think he was right in giving the office to Eli, and a wish expressed that she would write to him. “You don’t know how much good letters from home do such scamps as we privates are, or how we need something from the civilized world to keep us from turning heathens.”