Poor Paul! his back ached dreadfully, for he had never before done any harder work than trifling services for his father.  But the inexorable Mr. Mudge was in sight, and however much he wished, he did not dare to lay aside his hoe even for a moment.

Twelve o’clock found him standing beside the dinner-table.  He ate more heartily than before, for his forenoon’s labor made even poorhouse fare palatable.

Mrs. Mudge observed the change, and remarked in a satisfied tone.  “Well, my fine gentleman, I see you are coming to your appetite.  I thought you wouldn’t hold out long.”

Paul, who had worn off something of his diffidence, could not help feeling indignant at this speech; unaccustomed to be addressed in this way, the taunt jarred upon his feelings, but he only bit his lip and preserved silence.

Aunt Lucy, too, who had come to feel a strong interest in Paul, despite her natural mildness, could not resist the temptation of saying with some warmth, “what’s the use of persecuting the child?  He has sorrows enough of his own without your adding to them.”

Mrs. Mudge was not a little incensed at this remonstrance.

“I should like to know, ma’am, who requested you to put in your oar!” she said with arms akimbo.  “Anybody wouldn’t think from your lofty airs that you lived in the poorhouse; I’ll thank you to mind your own business in the future, and not meddle with what don’t concern you.”

Aunt Lucy was wise enough to abstain from provoking further the wrath of her amiable landlady, and continued to eat her soup in silence.  But Mrs. Mudge neer forgot this interference, nor the cause of it, and henceforth with the malignity of a narrow-minded and spiteful woman, did what she could to make Paul uncomfortable.  Her fertile ingenuity always found some new taunt, or some new reproach, to assail him with.  But Paul, though at first he felt indignant, learned at last to treat them as they deserved, with silent disdain.  Assured of the sympathy of those around him, he did not allow his appetite to be spoiled by any remark which Mrs. Mudge might offer.

This, of course, only provoked her the more, and she strove to have his daily tasks increased, in the amiable hope that his “proud spirit” might be tamed thereby.

Mr. Mudge, who was somewhat under petticoat government, readily acceded to his wife’s wishes, and henceforth Paul’s strength was taxed to its utmost limit.  He was required to be up with the first gray tint of dawn and attend to the cattle.  From this time until night, except the brief time devoted to his meals, he was incessantly occupied.  Aunt Lucy’s society, his chief comfort, was thus taken from him; since, in order to rise early, he was obliged to go to bed as soon as possible after day’s work was finished.