Draxy looked seriously in his face, and said “Oh, Mr. Kinney, I’m not anything by the side of father.”

The Elder’s eyes twinkled.

It was a silent though joyful group which gathered around the Elder’s tea-table that night.

Reuben and Jane were tired, bewildered, but their eyes rested on Draxy with perpetual smiles.  Draxy also smiled more than she spoke.  The Elder felt himself half out of place and wished to go away, but Draxy looked grieved at his proposal to do so, and he stayed.  But nobody could eat, and old Nancy, who had spent her utmost resources on the supper, was cruelly disappointed.  She bustled in and out on various pretenses, but at last could keep silence no longer.  “Seems to me ye’ve dreadful slim appetites for folks that’s been travellin’ all day.  Perhaps ye don’t like yer victuals,” she said, glancing sharply at Reuben.

“Oh yes, madame, yes,” said poor Reuben, nervously, “everything is very nice; much nicer than I am used to.”

Draxy laughed aloud.  “My father never eats when he is tired, Nancy.  You’ll see how he’ll eat to-morrow.”

After Nancy had left the room, Reuben wiped his forehead, and Draxy laughed again in spite of herself.  Old Nancy had been so kind and willing in helping her, she had grown fond of her, and had quite forgotten her father’s dread.  When Reuben bade Draxy good-night, he said under his breath, “I like your Elder very much, daughter; but I don’t know how I’m ever goin’ to stand livin’ with that Injun.”

“My Elder,” said Draxy to herself as she went up-stairs, “he’s everybody’s Elder—­and the Lord’s most of all I think,” and she went to sleep thinking of the solemn words which she had heard him speak on the last Sunday.

It was strange how soon the life of the new household adjusted itself; how full the days were, and how swift.  The summer was close upon them; Reuben’s old farmer instincts and habits revived in full force.  Bill Sims proved a most efficient helper; he had been Draxy’s sworn knight, from the moment of her first interview with him.  There would be work on Reuben’s farm for many hands, but Reuben was in no haste.  The sugar camp assured him of an income which was wealth to their simple needs; and he wished to act advisedly and cautiously in undertaking new enterprises.  All the land was wild land—­much of it deep swamps.  The maple orchard was the only part immediately profitable.  The village people came at once to see them.  Everybody was touched by Jane’s worn face and gentle ways; her silence did not repel them; everybody liked Draxy too, and admired her, but many were a little afraid of her.  The village men had said that she was “the smartest woman that had ever set foot in Clairvend village,” and human nature is human nature.  It would take a great deal of Draxy’s kindly good-will to make her sister women forgive her for being cleverer than they.  Draxy and Reuben were inseparable.  They drove; they walked; even into the swamps courageous Draxy penetrated with her father and Bill Sims, as they went about surveying the land; and it was Draxy’s keen instinct which in many cases suggested where improvements could be made.