Alida but partially understood his sudden change of mood, nor was the farmer
much better enlightened himself in regard to his irritation. He had received
an unexpected impression and it seemed to fit in with other things and explain
them. She returned slowly and dejectedly to the house, leaving unsaid the
words she meant to speak about Jane's relations to her. Now she wished that
she had imitated Jane, and merely nodded to the farmer's questions. "If he
knew how far I am beyond the point of liking, I don't know what he'd do or
say," she thought, "and I suppose that's the reason I couldn't answer him
frankly, in a way that would have satisfied him. It's a pity I couldn't begin
to just LIKE a little at first, as he does and have everything grow as
gradually and quietly as one of his cornstalks. That's the way I meant it
should be; but when he stood up for me and defended me from those men, my
heart just melted, and in spite of myself, I felt I could die for him. It
can't be such an awful thing for a woman to fall in love with her husband, and
yet--yet I'd rather put my hand in the fire than let him know how I feel. Oh,
dear! I wish Jane hadn't been born, as she says. Trouble is beginning
already, and it was all so nice before she came."

In a few moments Holcroft drove up. Alida stood in the door and looked
timidly at him. He thought she appeared a little pale and troubled, but his
bad mood prevailed and he only asked briefly, "Can't I get something for you?"

She shook her head.

"Well, goodbye, then," and he drove away with Jane, who was confirmed in her
line of policy. "She's afraid of 'im too," thought the child. "Mind her!
Guess not, unless he says so." She watched the farmer furtively and concluded
that she had never known him to look more grim or be more silent even under
her mother's blandishments. "He's married this one, I s'pose, to keep house
for 'im, but he don't like her follerin' 'im up or bein' for'ard any more'n he