"I'm sorry thee takes it so hard, Thomas; I was afraid thee would. But the way didn't seem to open for me to do much. I can see now, that Dorothy's inclinations have been turning this way for some time, though it's not likely she would own it, poor child; and Walter Evesham's not one who is easily gainsayed. If _thee_ could only feel differently about it, I can't say but it would make me very happy to see Dorothy's heart satisfied. Can't thee bring thyself into unity with it, father? He's a nice young man. They're nice folks. Thee can't complain of the _blood_. Margaret Evesham tells me a cousin of hers married one of the Lawrences, so we are kind of kin, after all." "I don't complain of the blood; they're well enough placed as far as the world is concerned! But their ways are not our ways, Rachel! Their faith is not our faith!" "Well! I can't see such a very great difference, come to live among them! 'By their fruits ye shall know them.' To comfort the widow and the fatherless, and keep ourselves unspotted from the world!--thee's always preached that, father! I really can't see any more worldliness here than among many households with us,--and I'm sure if we haven't been the widow and the fatherless this summer, we've been next to it!" Friend Barton raised his head a little, and rested his forehead on his clasped hands. "Rachel," he said, "look at that!" He pointed upward to an ancient sword with belt and trappings, which gleamed on the panelled chimney-piece--crossed by an old queen's arm. Evesham had given up his large sunny room to Dorothy's mother, but he had not removed all his lares and penates. "Yes, dear; that's his grandfather's sword--Colonel Evesham, who was killed at Saratoga!" "Why does he hang up that thing of abomination for a light and a guide to his footsteps, if his way be not far from ours?" "Why, father! Colonel Evesham was a good man!--I dare say he fought for the same reason that thee preaches--because he felt it his duty!" "I find no fault with _him_, Rachel. Doubtless he followed his light, as thee says; but he followed it in better ways too. He cleared land and built a homestead and a meeting-house. Why don't his grandson hang up his old broad-ax and ploughshare, and worship _them_, if he must have idols, instead of that symbol of strife and bloodshed. Does thee want our Dorothy's children to grow up under the shadow of that sword?" There was a stern light of prophecy in the old man's eyes.