Mercy [pp. 259-274]

M8ery/'O.
simply stared vacantly at the vehement
breathless speaker.
"Yes! if I'd been a hired girl, I should
have my regular wages, but, but -I was
only your wie," "- with inexpressible bitter ness, " I was only your wzfe, and so was n't
supposed to need any."
Her smooth red lips curled scornfully as
the long-nursed resentment broke forth, which
had at last the effect of rousing her slow hus band. So he interrupted, turning squarely
about on the seat, and leaving the steady
mare to her own sweet will for guidance,
"Mercy, what- do - you mean?"
Angry, Mercy replied quickly enough, "I
mean what I say, Levi!"
"Mercy, I cannot see why you haven't
been treated just as well and had just as
much as any other young farmer's wife. You
knew what to expect when you married
me?"
"I know it, and that's the reason, I suppose, I've never complained before! And
I should n't have today, only you said I looked
happier now, when I've just lost my own
good mother, than I have for ever so long.
If I do- and I hope dear mother'11 forgive
me if it's so! - it's because I'm in my own
house and am my own mistress now."
"You called me neglectful and said something about money, Mercy. What did you
want money for? You v'e had everything
necessary, and you know we aint rich people,
to waste cash on unnecessary things!"
" That's just it, Levi! That's just what's
hurt me so' You've never thought I wanted
anytling/ I really do think I'd've been
contented to wear my old shabby things,
and nevzer have anything new, if you'd even
noticed! No! you'd just as soon have me
go shabby as any other way, and may be
dirty too, though, thank fortune! I always
thought too much of myself to do so!
You've got some mourning for me, I know,
but even so I did n't have the selection of
my things. Your mother bought me goods
I would n't have bought for myself at all!"
"O, Mercy, Mercy! don't you know that
was a time when you would n't care to go
shopping?"
Levi it was, now, who was flushed and
agitated, and, yes - weeping! Not as
Mercy wept, with heaving breast and gasping
breath; but with great silent tears standing
in his big blue eyes, and with his pale lips
twitching convulsively as he essayed to speak.
Good was it that the country road was
deserted just then. There had else been a
choice bit of gossip for a passing neighbor
to retail on the morrow.
"And you thought now you're in your
own home, you'd have a better chance "
he stopped short, unable to say more. His
eyes that were but now wet became dry, and
shone with a flame such as flashes only from
the blue orbs of slow natures when once
roused. Yes! he was angry indeed with the
angry wife at his side. Much was said, by
both, of most foolish and wicked recrimina tion - much that, as is done in most such
cases, were far better left unsaid - before
the white farm-house was reached; and still
they came to no better understanding. Mercy
leaped sullenly from the buggy before her
husband could offer his help, and went
indoors to begin the preparation of their
frugal tea.
Quick, however, as she had been in getting off her "things," and getting on the long
apron to keep tidy her black dress, she found
Levi had been before her, as she entered the
broad low-ceiled kitchen, and had already
lighted the fire in the shining cooking-stove.
She wanted to thank him for this thoughtfulness,- for she had already had time for a
small amount of reflection on her own burst
of passion, and for a somewhat larger share
of shame thereat, - but she was still too sore
and sullen to confess herself at all in the
wrong. That coming meal was a most
wretched one for both; a mere mockery of a
meal, whose every mouthful seemed to choke
the silent pair at table. How unspeakably
oppressive is a t/te a-tate under such circumstances! Probably neither Levi nor Mercy
had ever speculated on such matters, but
each felt the dread constraint of the other's
presence quite as much as if they had read
volumes of psychological treatises.
Once the tea-things were put away, and
1888.]
265