Very few people, even inLoudoun County, had glass
windows in their carriages. The floor was bare; old boards, very wide, ax-hewn
fromgreat trees before the day of sawmills. She was a comely figure in the
congregation, clad in black silk andwhite fichu. Blake said heartily: Thatis surely
a good letter. The roads ought to be good, if thisdrizzle dont set into a hard
rain.
Zach, he said she was waitin in deparlour. She
helped her to rise for a momentand pulled down the full skirts.
Blakes firm mouthshut closer as she
knocked.
He turned up his coat-collar and reached forhis
hat, but his wife interfered. The miller, of course, didnot accompany
her.
Well, he couldnt make folks over, heguessed. Now,
Nancy, run and fetch me a kitchen chair and a clean soft rag.
His wife replied with her most ladylike laugh, a
flash of fun init.
It was a treat to hearher husband break out like
this.
His wife looked at him with an indulgent smile, and
shook her head. Colbert turned her letter face-down upon her desk.
The Dodderidgeshad let the Mill Farm to tenants for
successive generations.
When she felt satisfiedwith it, she folded the
sheet and sealed it with a dab of red wax.
I seeyouve got your little granddaughters along
today.
The children climbed into the carriage, delighted
at their goodluck.
Colbert certainlydidnt intend to keep the whole
mountain.
She admired hermother and took pride in what she
called her mothers nice ways. Sapphira Dodderidge usually acted upon motives which
she disclosedto no one. Thestorekeeper saw the carriage stop, and came
out.
On this Back Creek estatethere was a mill. Her
speech, like her handwriting,was more cultivated than was common in this
back-country district. Henrys own father was a plain man, amiller, and he trained
his eldest son to that occupation. Ah thought nobodyd see mahfe-e-t on de box,
Missy.