“‘Oh yes, she’s that,’ he assented. ‘A little too much so for our sized house, I sometimes think.’
“‘You see,’ he went on, ‘she’s a bit cornery in her temper, Hannah is; and then her mother’s a bit trying, at times.’
“‘Her mother!’ I exclaimed, ‘but what’s she got to do with you?’
“‘Well, you see, sir,’ he answered, ‘she’s living with us now—ever since the old man went off.’
“‘Hannah’s father! Is he dead, then?’
“‘Well, not exactly, sir,’ he replied. ‘He ran off about a twelvemonth ago with one of the young women who used to teach in the Sunday School, and joined the Mormons. It came as a great surprise to every one.’
“I groaned. ‘And his business,’ I inquired—‘the timber business, who carries that on?’
“‘Oh, that!’ answered Josiah. ‘Oh, that had to be sold to pay his debts—leastways, to go towards ’em.’
“I remarked what a terrible thing it was for his family. I supposed the home was broken up, and they were all scattered.
“‘No, sir,’ he replied simply, ‘they ain’t scattered much. They’re all living with us.’