Levis's eyes twinkled. Matthew had lately shown an inclination to observe that his father's methods of farming were not those of the thrifty neighbors.
"Manda, where are you going?"
"In my church," Manda answered in a tone at once humble and reproachful. She was always a person of few words, but her ability to express a variety of meanings with a H'm or with the valuable So! of the Pennsylvania Germans made a large vocabulary unnecessary.
Again Levis's eyes twinkled and again he thought of Mrs. Gummidge, ever mourning for "the old one."
"And Ellen?"
Ellen's tears refused to be longer restrained. She rose from her chair and went to her father.
"Matthew won't speak to me. I went up seven times to tell him that I was sorry and he wouldn't open the door."
Levis led Ellen into his office.
"Matthew is best left alone. He'll come round, never fear! I have a visit to make which will keep me out till after dark. There is a book and Matthew will hear you if you call. If you get sleepy, go to bed."