"How do you know?"
" 'Cause he's tuk all his traps and went, and he said farming didn't pay, and he wa'n't a-going to have nothin' more to deu with it; he telled Mis' Simpson so he lived to Mis' Simpson's; and she telled Mr. Ten Eyck."
"Are you sure, Philetus?"
"Sure as 'lection! he telled Mis' Simpson so, and she telled
Mr. Ten Eyck; and he's cleared out."
Fleda and Hugh again looked at each other. Mr. Skillcorn having now delivered himself of his news, went out to the woodyard.
"I hope he ha'n't carried off our cows along with him," said Barby, as she, too, went out to some other part of her premises.
"He was to have made us quite a payment on the first of
March," said Fleda.
"Yes, and that was to have gone to uncle Orrin," said Hugh.
"We shall not see a cent of it. And we wanted a little of it for ourselves. I have that money from the Excelsior, but I can't touch a penny of it, for it must go to Philetus's wages. What Barby does without hers, I do not know; she has had but one five dollars in six months. Why she stays I cannot imagine; unless it is for pure love."
"As soon as the spring opens, I can go to the mill again," said Hugh, after a little pause. Fleda looked at him sorrowfully, and shook her head as she withdrew her eyes.