to leave them. Grandmother entreated them
to try Antonia. She cornered Ambrosch the
next time he came to town, and pointed out
to him that any connection with Christian
Harling would strengthen his credit and be
of advantage to him. One Sunday Mrs. Har-
ling took the long ride out to the Shimerdas'
with Frances. She said she wanted to see
"what the girl came from" and to have a
clear understanding with her mother. I was
in our yard when they came driving home,
just before sunset. They laughed and waved
to me as they passed, and I could see they
were in great good humor. After supper,
when grandfather set off to church, grand-
mother and I took my short cut through the
willow hedge and went over to hear about
the visit to the Shimerdas'.

We found Mrs. Harling with Charley and
Sally on the front porch, resting after her hard
drive. Julia was in the hammock -- she was
fond of repose -- and Frances was at the
piano, playing without a light and talking to
her mother through the open window.

Mrs. Harling laughed when she saw us
coming. "I expect you left your dishes on
the table tonight, Mrs. Burden," she called.

[[172]]

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