But Caroline Holland was not a bad or unkind woman.  True, she did not love Naomi or her children; but the woman was dying and must be looked after for the sake of common humanity.  Caroline thought she had done well by her sister-in-law.

When the red clay was heaped over Naomi’s grave in the Avonlea burying ground, Caroline took Eunice and Christopher home with her.  Christopher did not want to go; it was Eunice who reconciled him.  He clung to her with an exacting affection born of loneliness and grief.

In the days that followed Caroline Holland was obliged to confess to herself that there would have been no doing anything with Christopher had it not been for Eunice.  The boy was sullen and obstinate, but his sister had an unfailing influence over him.

In Charles Holland’s household no one was allowed to eat the bread of idleness.  His own children were all girls, and Christopher came in handy as a chore boy.  He was made to work—­perhaps too hard.  But Eunice helped him, and did half his work for him when nobody knew.  When he quarreled with his cousins, she took his part; whenever possible she took on herself the blame and punishment of his misdeeds.

Electa Holland was Charles’ unmarried sister.  She had kept house for Benjamin until he married; then Naomi had bundled her out.  Electa had never forgiven her for it.  Her hatred passed on to Naomi’s children.  In a hundred petty ways she revenged herself on them.  For herself, Eunice bore it patiently; but it was a different matter when it touched Christopher.

Once Electa boxed Christopher’s ears.  Eunice, who was knitting by the table, stood up.  A resemblance to her mother, never before visible, came out in her face like a brand.  She lifted her hand and slapped Electa’s cheek deliberately twice, leaving a dull red mark where she struck.

“If you ever strike my brother again,” she said, slowly and vindictively, “I will slap your face every time you do.  You have no right to touch him.”

“My patience, what a fury!” said Electa.  “Naomi Holland’ll never be dead as long as you’re alive!”

She told Charles of the affair and Eunice was severely punished.  But Electa never interfered with Christopher again.

All the discordant elements in the Holland household could not prevent the children from growing up.  It was a consummation which the harrassed Caroline devoutly wished.  When Christopher Holland was seventeen he was a man grown—­a big, strapping fellow.  His childish beauty had coarsened, but he was thought handsome by many.

He took charge of his mother’s farm then, and the brother and sister began their new life together in the long-unoccupied house.  There were few regrets on either side when they left Charles Holland’s roof.  In her secret heart Eunice felt an unspeakable relief.

Christopher had been “hard to manage,” as his uncle said, in the last year.  He was getting into the habit of keeping late hours and doubtful company.  This always provoked an explosion of wrath from Charles Holland, and the conflicts between him and his nephew were frequent and bitter.