"Well, he's kind to you, too."

"Yes, he has always been kind to me," said Alida gently and lingeringly, as if
the thought were pleasant to dwell upon.

"Say," said Jane, yielding to her curiosity, "how did you make him so afraid
of you when he don't like you? He didn't like mother, but he wasn't afraid of
her."

"Why do you think he doesn't like me?" Alida faltered, turning very pale.

"Oh! 'Cause he looked once jest as he did after mother'd been goin' for--"

"There, be still! You mustn't speak of such things, or talk to me about Mr.
Holcroft in such a way," and she hastily left the kitchen. When in the
solitude of her own room, she gave way to bitter tears. "Is it so plain," she
thought, "that even this ignorant child sees it? And the unhappy change began
the day she came, too. I can't understand it. We were so happy before; and
he seemed to enjoy being near me and talking to me when his work permitted.
He used to look into my eyes in a way that made me hope and, indeed, feel
almost sure. I receive no more such looks; he seems only trying to do his
duty by me as he promised at first, and acts as if it were all duty, a mere
matter of conscience. Could he have discovered how I felt, and so is taking
this way to remind me that nothing of the kind was in our agreement? Well,
I've no reason to complain; I accepted the relation of my own free will, but
it's hard, hard indeed for a woman who loves a man with her whole heart and
soul--and he her husband--to go on meeting him day after day, yet act as if
she were his mere business partner. But I can't help myself; my very nature,
as well as a sense of his rights, prevents me from asking more or even showing
that I wish for more. That WOULD be asking for it. But can it be true that