April 1, 2025 • 36 mins
Mary Wilkins Freeman's "A New England Nun" follows Louisa Ellis as she grapples with the return of her fiancé Joe Daggett after a 14-year absence and discovers that her peaceful, orderly life is more precious to her than marriage.
• Louisa has created a meticulously ordered life during Joe's 14-year absence in Australia
• Her days are filled with peaceful routines—perfect housekeeping, sewing linen seams, and distilling flower essences
• Joe's return and imminent marriage threatens to disrupt her carefully cultivated solitude
• Louisa accidentally overhears Joe and another woman, Lily, confessing their feelings but determining to honor his commitment
• Given the opportunity to break the engagement, Louisa chooses her serene independence over marriage
• The story challenges conventional views of spinsterhood, presenting solitude as a conscious choice leading to contentment
• Freeman portrays Louisa's decision as empowerment rather than sacrifice, finding joy in "days strung together like pearls in a rosary"
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello, this is Ron, with Ron Reads Boring Books and
today we have A New England Nunby Mary Wilkins.
Freeman Freeman, are you tired?
(00:30):
You will be A New England Nun.
It was late in the afternoonand the light was waning.
There was a difference in thelook of the tree shadows out in
the yard, somewhere in thedistance, cows were lowing and a
(00:55):
little bell was tinkling.
Now and then a farm wagontilted by and the dust flew.
Some blue-shirted laborers withshovels over their shoulders
plodded past.
Little swarms of flies weredancing up and down before the
people's faces.
In the soft air there seemed tobe a gentle stir arising over
(01:20):
everything for the mere sake ofsubsidence, subsidence,
everything for the mere sake ofsubsidence, a very premonition
of rest and hush and night.
This soft diurnal commotion wasover Louisa Ellis also.
She had been peacefully sewingat her sitting room window all
(01:44):
afternoon.
Now she quilted her needlecarefully into her work, which
she folded precisely and laid inthese little feminine
(02:05):
appurtenances which had become,from long use and constant
association, a very part of herpersonality.
Louisa tied a green apronaround her waist and got out a
flat straw hat with a greenribbon.
Then she went into the gardenwith a little blue crockery bowl
(02:27):
to pick some currants for hertea.
After the currants were picked,she sat on the back doorstep
and stemmed them, collecting thestems carefully in her apron
and afterwards throwing theminto the hen coop.
She looked sharply at the grassbeside the step to see if any
had fallen there.
(02:48):
Louisa was slow and still inher movements.
It took her a long time toprepare her tea, but when she
was ready it was set forth withas much grace as if she had been
a veritable guest to her ownself.
The little square table stoodexactly in the center of the
(03:08):
kitchen and was covered with astarched linen cloth whose
border pattern of flowersglistened.
Louisa had a dusk mask napkinon her tea tray, where were
arranged a cut glass tumblerfull of teaspoons, a silver
cream pitcher, a china sugarbowl and one pink china cup and
(03:33):
saucer.
Louisa used china every day,something which none of her
neighbors did.
They whispered about it amongthemselves.
Their daily tables were laidwith common crockery.
Their sets of the best chinastayed in the parlor closet, and
(03:54):
Louisa Ellis was no richer norbetter bred than they.
Still, she would use the china.
She had for her supper a glassdish full of sugared currants.
She had for her supper a glassdish full of sugared currants, a
plate of little cakes and oneof light white biscuits.
Also a leaf or two of lettucewhich she cut up daintily.
(04:17):
Louisa was very fond of lettucewhich she raised to perfection
in her little garden.
She ate quite heartily, thoughin a delicate pecking way.
It seemed almost surprisingthat any considerable bulk of
the food should vanish.
After tea she filled a platewith nicely baked thin corn
(04:39):
cakes and carried them out intothe backyard and carried them
out into the backyard Caesar shecalled Caesar Caesar.
There was a little rush and theclank of a chain and a large
yellow and white dog appeared atthe door of the tiny hut which
(05:02):
was half hidden in the tallgrasses and flowers.
Louisa patted him and gave himthe corn cakes.
Then she returned to the houseand washed the tea things,
polishing the china carefully.
The twilight had deepened.
The chorus of the frogs floatedin the open window wonderfully
(05:33):
loud and shrill, and once in awhile a long, sharp drone from a
tree toad pierced it.
Louisa took off her greengangam apron, disclosing a
shorter one of pink and whiteprint.
She lighted her lamp and satdown again with her sewing.
In about half an hour joedaggett came.
She heard his heavy step on thewalk and rose and took off her
(05:54):
pink and white apron.
Under that was still anotherwhite linen with a little
cambric edging on the bottom.
Little cambric edging on thebottom, that was Louisa's
company apron.
She never wore it without hercalico sewing apron over it,
unless she had a guest.
She had barely folded the pinkand white one with methodical
(06:15):
haste and laid it in a tabledrawer.
When the door opened and JoeDaggett entered he seemed to
fill up the whole room.
A little yellow canary that hadbeen asleep in his green cage
at the south window woke up andfluttered wildly, beating his
little yellow wings against thewires.
(06:35):
He always did so when JoeDaggett came in the room.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Good evening said Louisa.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
She extended her hand with a kind of solemn
cordiality.
Good evening.
Louisa, returned the man in aloud voice.
She placed a chair for him andthey sat facing each other, with
the table between them.
He sat bolt upright, towing outhis heavy feet squarely
(07:06):
glancing with a good-humoreduneasiness.
In the room she sat gentlyerect, folding her slender hands
in her white linen lap.
Been a pleasant day, remarkedDaggett.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Real pleasant.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Louisa assented softly.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Have you been hanging ?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
she asked after a little while.
Yes, I've been laying all daydown in the 10 acre lot pretty
hot work it must be yes, it'spretty hot work in the sun is
your mother.
Well, today yes, yes, mother,mother's pretty well.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
I suppose Lily Dyer's with her now.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Daggett colored.
Yes, she's with her.
He answered slowly.
He was not very young, butthere was a boyish look about
his large face.
Louisa was not quite as old ashe.
Her face was fairer andsmoother, but she gave people
(08:12):
the impression of being older.
I suppose she's a good deal ofhelp to your mother she said
further I guess she's a gooddeal of help to your mother.
She said further I guess she is.
I don't know how mother'd getalong without her, said Daggett,
with a sort of embarrassedwarmth.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
She looks like a real capable girl.
She's pretty looking tooremarked Louisa.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yes, she's pretty fair looking Presently.
Daggett began fingering thealbum on the gift book.
Louisa kept eyeing them withmild uneasiness.
Finally she rose and changedthe position of the books,
putting the album underneath.
That was the way they had beenarranged in the first place.
Daggett gave an awkward littlelaugh.
(09:19):
Daggett gave an awkward littlelaugh.
Now what difference did it make?
Which book was on top, he said.
Louisa looked at him with adeprecating smile.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
I always keep them that way murmured she.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
You do beat everything, said Daggett, trying
to laugh again.
His large face was flushed.
He remained about an hourlonger, then rose to take leave,
going out.
He stumbled over a rug and,trying to recover himself, hit
Louisa's work basket on thetable and knocked it on the
floor.
He looked at Louisa and then atthe rolling spools.
(09:59):
He ducked himself awkwardlytoward them, but she stopped him
.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Never mind she said I'll pick them up after you're
gone.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
She spoke with a mild stiffness.
Either she was a littledisturbed or his nervousness
affected her.
It made her seem constrained inher effort to reassure him.
When Joe Daggett was outside,he drew in the sweet evening air
with a sigh and felt as much aninnocent and perfectly
(10:31):
well-intentioned bear mightafter his exit from a china shop
.
Louisa, on her part, felt muchas the kind-hearted,
long-suffering owner of thechina shop might have done.
After the exit of the bear, shetied on the pink, then the
(10:53):
green apron, picked up all thescattered treasures and replaced
them in her work basket andstraightened the rug.
She then set the lamp on thefloor and began sharply
examining the carpet.
She even rubbed her fingersover it and looked at them.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
He's tracked in a good deal of dust she murmured.
I thought he must have.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Louisa got a dustpan and brush and swept Joe
Daggett's track carefully.
If he could have known it itwould have increased his
perplexed plexity and uneasiness, although it would not have
disturbed his loyalty in theleast.
He came twice a week to seeLouisa Ellis and every time,
(11:39):
sitting there in her delicatelysweet room, he felt as if
surrounded by a hedge of lace.
He was afraid to stir lest heshould put a clumsy foot or hand
through the airy web, and hehad always the consciousness
that Louisa was watchingfearfully lest he should Still
(12:01):
the lace.
And Louisa commanded perforcehis perfect respect and patience
and loyalty.
They were to be married in themonth after a singular courtship
which had lasted for a matterof 15 years.
For 14 out of the 15 years thetwo had not once seen each other
(12:23):
and they had seldom exchangedletters.
Joe had been all those years inAustralia where he had gone to
make his fortune and where hehad stayed until he made it.
He would have stayed fiftyyears if it had taken so long
and come home feebling andtottering, or never come home at
(12:45):
all, to marry Louisa.
But the fortune had been madein the fourteen years and he had
come now to marry the woman whohad been patiently and
unquestioningly waiting for himall that time.
Shortly after they were engaged, he had announced to Louisa his
determination to strike outinto new fields and secure a
(13:06):
competency before they should bemarried.
She had listened and assentedwith the sweet serenity which
never failed her, not even whenher lover set forth on that long
and uncertain journey.
Joe, buoyed up as he was by hissturdy determination, broke
down a little at the last, butLouisa kissed him with a mild
(13:27):
blush and said goodbye.
It won't be for long, poor Joe,had said huskily, but it was
for fourteen years.
In that length of time much hadhappened.
Louisa's mother and brother haddied and she was all alone in
the world.
But the greatest happening ofall, a subtle happening which
(13:48):
both were too simple tounderstand Louisa's feet had
turned into a path, smooth maybeunder a calm, serene sky, but
so straight and unswerving thatit could only meet a check at
her grave and so narrow thatthere was no room for anyone at
her side.
(14:09):
Louisa's first emotion when JoeDaggett came home he had not
appraised her of his coming wasconsternation, although she
would not admit it to herself.
Coming was consternation,although she would not admit it
to herself, and he never dreamedof it.
Fifteen years ago, she had beenin love with him.
At least she considered herselfto be Just at that time.
(14:30):
Gently acquiescing with thefalling into the natural drift
of girlhood, she had seenmarriage ahead as a reasonable
feature and a probabledesirability of life.
She had listened with calmdocility to her mother's views
upon the subject.
Her mother was remarkable forher cool sense and sweet, even
(14:52):
temperament.
She talked wisely to herdaughter when Joe Daggett
presented himself and Louisaaccepted him with no hesitation.
He was the first lover she everhad.
He had been faithful.
She had been faithful to himall these years.
She had never dreamed of thepossibility of marrying anyone
(15:14):
else.
Her life, especially for thelast seven years, had been full
of pleasant peace.
She had never felt discontentednor impatient over her lover's
absence.
Still, she had always lookedforward to his return and their
marriage was the inevitableconclusion of things.
However, she had fallen into away of placing it so far in the
(15:37):
future that it was almost equalto placing it over the
boundaries of another life.
When Joe came, she had beenexpecting him and expecting to
be married for 14 years, but shewas as much surprised and taken
(15:58):
aback as if she had neverthought of it.
Joe's consternation came later.
He eyed Louisa with an instantconfirmation of his old
admiration.
She had changed but little.
She still kept her prettymanner and soft grace and was he
(16:20):
considered every wit, asattractive as ever.
As for himself, his stint wasdone.
He had turned his face awayfrom fortune-seeking and in the
old winds of romance, whistledas loud and sweet as ever
through his ears.
All the song which he had beenwont to hear in them was louisa.
(16:41):
He had for a long time a loyalbelief that he heard it still.
But finally it seemed to himthat although the wind sang,
never more than murmured.
Now it had gone down,everything was still.
She listened for a little whilewith half-wistful attention.
(17:06):
Then she turned quietly awayand went to work on her wedding
clothes.
Joe had made some extensive andquite magnificent alterations in
his house.
It was the old homestead thenewly married couple would live
there, for joe could not deserthis mother who refused to leave
her old home.
(17:29):
About among her neat maidenlypossessions, she felt as one
looking her last upon the facesof dear friends.
It was true that in a measureshe could take them with her,
but robbed of their oldenvironments, they would appear
in such new guises that theywould almost cease to be
(17:52):
themselves.
Then there were some peculiarfeatures of her happy, solitary
life which she would probably beobliged to relinquish
altogether.
Sterner tasks than thesegraceful but half-needless ones
would probably devolve upon her.
There would be a large house tocare for, there would be
(18:12):
company to entertain, therewould be Joe's rigorous and
feeble old mother to wait upon,and it would be contrary to all
thrifty village traditions forher to keep more than one
servant.
Louisa had a little still, andshe used to occupy herself
pleasantly in summer weatherwith distilling the sweet and
(18:33):
aromatic essences from roses andpeppermint.
And spearmint by and by herstill must be laid away.
Her store of essences wasalready considerable and there
would be no time for her todistill for the mere pleasure of
it.
Then Joe's mother would thinkit foolishness.
She had already hinted heropinion in the matter.
(18:53):
Louisa dearly loved to sew alinen seam, not always for use
but for the simple, mildpleasure which she took in it.
She would have been loath toconfess how more than once she
had ripped a seam for the meredelight of sewing it together
again Sitting at her windowduring long, sweet afternoons,
(19:21):
drawing her needle gentlythrough the dainty fabric.
She was peace itself.
But there was small chance ofsuch foolish comfort in that
future.
Joe's mother, domineering,shrewd old matron that she was
even in her old age.
Joe's mother, domineeringshrewd old matron that she was
(19:51):
even in her old age.
And very likely even Joehimself with his honest,
masculine rudeness would laughand frown down all these pretty
but senseless old maiden ways.
Louisa had almost theenthusiasm of an artist over the
mere order and cleanliness ofher solitary home.
She had throbs of genuinetriumph at the sight of the
window panes which she hadpolished until they shone like
jewels.
She gloated gently over herorderly bureau drawers with
their exquisitely foldedcontents, redolent with lavender
(20:13):
and sweet clover and verypurity.
Could she be sure of theendurance of even this?
She had visions so startlingthat she half repudiated them as
indelicate of coarse masculinebelongings strewn about in
endless litter of dust anddisorder arising necessarily
(20:36):
from a coarse masculine presencein the midst of all this
delicate harmony.
Among her forebodings ofdisturbance, not the least was
with regard to Caesar.
Caesar was a veritable hermit ofa dog.
For the greater part of hislife he had dwelt in his
secluded hut, shut out from thesociety of his kind and all
innocent canine joys.
(20:57):
Never had Caesar, since hisearly youth, watched at a
woodchuck's hole, never had heknown the delights of a stray
bone at a neighbor's kitchendoor.
And it was all on account of asin committed when, hardly out
of his puppyhood.
No one knew the possible depthof remorse of which this mild
(21:19):
visaged, altogetherinnocent-looking dog might be
capable.
But whether or not he hadencountered remorse, he had
encountered a full measure ofrighteous retribution.
Old Caesar seldom lifted up hisvoice in a growl or bark.
He was fat and sleepy.
There were yellow rings whichlooked like spectacles around
(21:40):
his dim old eyes.
But there was a neighbor whobore on his hand the imprint of
several of Caesar's sharp, white, youthful teeth, and for that
he had lived at the end of achain, all alone in a little hut
for fourteen years.
All alone in a little hut.
For fourteen years.
The neighbor, who was cholericand smarting with the pain of
(22:03):
his wound, had demanded eitherCaesar's death or complete
ostracism.
So Louisa's brother, to whomthe dog had belonged, had built
him his little kennel and tiedhim up.
It was now fourteen years since, in a flood of youthful spirits
, he had inflicted thatmemorable bite and, with the
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exception of short excursions,always at the end of the chain,
under the strict guardianship ofhis master or Louisa, the old
dog had remained a closeprisoner.
It is doubtful if, with hislimited ambition, he took much
pride in the fact, but it iscertain that he was possessed of
considerable cheap fame.
(22:44):
He was regarded by all thechildren in the village and by
many adults as a very monster offerocity.
St George's dragon could hardlyhave surpassed an evil repute,
louisa Ellis's old yellow dog.
Mothers charged their childrenwith solemn emphasis not to go
(23:04):
too near to him, and thechildren listened and believed
greedily, with a fascinatedappetite for terror, and ran by
Louisa's house stealthily, withmany sidelong and backward
glances at the terrible dog.
If perchance he sounded a horsebark, there was a panic.
(23:25):
Wayfarers chancing intoLouisa's yard, eyed him with
respect and inquired.
If the chain were stout, caesarat large might have seemed a
very ordinary dog and excited.
No, no comment whatever.
Chained.
His reputation overshadowed himso that he lost his own proper
outlines and looked darkly vagueand enormous.
(23:46):
Joe daggett, however, with hisgood-humored sense of shrewdness
, saw him as he was.
He strode valiantly up to himand patted him on the head in
spite of Louisa's soft clamor ofwarning, and even attempted to
set him loose.
Louisa grew so alarmed that shedesisted but kept announcing
his opinion in the matter quiteforcibly at intervals.
(24:08):
There ain't no better naturedog in town, he would say, and
it's downright cruel to keep himtied up there.
Someday I'm going to take himout.
Louisa had very little hope thathe would not one of these days
when their interest andpossession should be more
completely fused in one.
(24:29):
She pictured to herself Caesaron the rampage through the quiet
and unguarded village.
She saw innocent childrenbleeding in his path.
She was herself very fond ofthe old dog because he had
belonged to her dead brother andhe was always very gentle with
her.
Still, she had great faith inhis ferocity.
(24:52):
She always warned people not togo too near him.
She fed him on ascetic fare ofcorn, mush and cakes and never
fired his dangerous temper withheating and sanguinary diet of
flesh and bones.
Louisa looked at the old dogmunching his simple fare and
(25:12):
thought of her approachingmarriage and trembled and
thought of her approachingmarriage and trembled Still.
No anticipation of disorder andconfusion in lieu of sweet
peace and harmony.
No forebodings of Caesar on therampage, no wild fluttering of
her little yellow canary weresufficient to warn her.
A hair's breadth.
Joe Daggett had been fond ofher and working for her all
(25:38):
these years.
It was not for her.
Whatever came to pass, to proveuntrue and break his heart, she
put the exquisite littlestitches into her wedding
garments, and the time went onuntil it was only a week before
her wedding day.
It was a Tuesday evening andthe wedding was to be a week
from Wednesday.
There was a full moon thatnight.
(26:04):
About nine o'clock Louisastrolled down the road a little
way.
There were harvest fields oneither hand, bordered by low
stone walls.
Luxurious clumps of bushes grewinside the wall and trees, wild
cherry and old apple trees atintervals.
Presently, louisa sat down onthe wall and looked about her
with mildly sorrowfulreflectiveness.
Tall shrubs of blueberry andmeadow sweet all wove together
(26:30):
and tangled with blackberryvines, and horse priors shut her
in on either side.
She had a little clear spacebetween them.
Opposite her, on the other sideof the road, was a spreading
tree.
The moon shone between itsboughs and the leaves twinkled
like silver.
The road was bespread with abeautiful shifting dapple of
(26:54):
silver and shadow.
The air was full of mysterioussweetness.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
I wonder if it's wild grapes murmured Louisa.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
She sat there some time.
She was just thinking of risingwhen she heard footsteps and
low voices and remained quiet.
It was a lonely place and shefelt a little timid.
She thought she would keepstill in the shadow and let the
persons, whoever they might be,pass her.
Just before they reached her,the voices ceased and the
footsteps.
(27:24):
She understood that theirowners had also found seats upon
the stone wall.
She was wondering if she couldnot steal away unobserved.
When the voice broke thestillness, it was Joe Daggett's.
She sat still and listened.
The voice was announced by LaoTsai, which was familiar as
(27:45):
itself.
Well said, daggett, you've madeup your mind then I suppose.
Yes, returned another voice.
I'm going day after tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
That's.
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Lily Dyer thought Louisa to herself.
The voice embodied itself inher mind.
She saw a girl, tall andfull-figured, with a firm, fair
face, looking fairer and firmerin the moonlight, her strong
yellow hair braided in a closeknot.
A girl full of calm, rustic,strength and bloom with a
masterful way which might havebestemed a princess.
(28:26):
Lily Dyer was a favorite withthe village folk.
She had just the qualities toarouse the admiration.
She was good and handsome andsmart.
Louisa had often heard herpraises sounded.
Well, said Joe Daggett.
I ain't got a word to say.
I don't know what you could sayreturned Lily Dyer, not a word
(28:50):
to say.
Repeated Joe drawing out thewords heavily.
Then there was silence drawingout the words heavily, then
there was silence.
I ain't sorry he began at last,that that happened yesterday,
that we kind of let on how wefelt to each other.
I guess it's just as well weknew.
(29:13):
Of course I can't do anythingany different.
I'm going right on and gettingmarried next week.
I ain't going back on a womanthat's waited for me 14 years
and break her heart.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
If you should jilt her tomorrow, I wouldn't have
you spoke up the girl withsudden vehemence.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Well, I ain't going to give you the chance, said he,
but I won't believe you wouldeither.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
You see, I wouldn't Honor's honor, and that's right,
and I'd never think of anything, of any man that went against
him, for me or any other girl.
You'd find that out, joeDaggett.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Well, you'll find out fast enough that I ain't going
against him for you or any othergirl.
You'd find that out, JoeTaggett.
Well, you'll find out fastenough that I ain't going
against him for you or any othergirl, returned he.
Then voices sounded almost asif they were angry with each
other.
Louisa was listening eagerly.
I'm sorry you felt as if youmust go away, said Joe, but I
don't know.
But it's best.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Of course it's best.
I hope you and I have gotcommon sense.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Well, I suppose you're right.
Suddenly Joe's voice got anundertone of tenderness.
Say Lily, said he.
I'll get along well enoughmyself.
But I can't bear to think youdon't suppose you're going to
fret much over it.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I guess you'll find out, I shan't fret much over a
married man.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Well, I hope you won't.
I hope you won't, lily, godknows I do, and I hope one of
these days you'll come acrosssomebody else.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
I don't see any reason why I shouldn't.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Suddenly, her tone changed.
She spoke in a sweet, clearvoice, so loud that she could
have been heard across thestreet.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
No, joe Daggett she said I'll never marry another
man as long as I live.
I've got good sense and I ain'tgoing to break my heart nor
make a fool of myself.
But I'm never going to bemarried, you can be sure of that
.
I ain't that sort of girl tofeel this way twice.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Louisa heard an exclamation and a soft commotion
behind the bushes.
Then Lily spoke again.
The voice sounded as if shehadn't risen.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
This must be put a stop to she said we have stayed
here long enough.
I'm going home.
Stop to she said, said she.
We have stayed here long enough.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
I'm going home.
Louisa sat there in a dazelistening to their retreating
steps.
After a while she got up andslunk softly home herself.
The next day she did herhousework methodically.
That was as much a matter ofcourse as breathing.
(32:13):
But she did not sew on herwedding clothes.
She sat at her window andmeditated.
In the evening Joe came.
Louisa Ellis had never knownthat she had any diplomacy in
her, but when she came to lookfor it that night she found it,
although meek of its kind, amongher little feminine weapons.
Even now she could hardlybelieve that she had heard
(32:34):
aright and that she would not doJoe a terrible injury should
she break their troth plight.
She wanted to sound him withoutbetraying too soon her own
inclinations in the matter.
She did it successfully andfinally came to an understanding
.
But it was a difficult thing,for he was afraid of betraying
himself as she.
(32:55):
She never mentioned Lily Dyer.
She simply said that, while shehad no cause of complaint
against him, she had lived solong in one way that she shrank
from making a change.
Well, I never shrank, louisasaid.
Daggett, I'm going to be honestwith you, honest enough to say
that I think maybe it's betterthis way.
But if you'd wanted to keep on,I'd have stuck to you till my
(33:18):
dying day.
I hope you know that.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Yes, I do said she.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
That night she and Joe parted more tenderly than
they had done for a long time.
That night, she and Joe partedmore tenderly than they had done
for a long time, Standing inthe door holding each other's
hands.
A last great wave of regretfulmemory swept over them.
Well, this ain't the way wethought it was all going to end,
is it Louisa?
Said Joe.
She shook her head.
(33:53):
There was a little quiver onher placid face.
You let me know if there's everanything I can do for you, said
he.
I ain't ever gonna forget you,Louisa.
Then he kissed her and wentdown the path.
Louisa, all alone, by herself.
That nightpt a little.
She hardly knew why.
But the next morning on waking,she felt like a queen who,
after fearing lest her domain bewrested away from her, sees it
(34:16):
firmly insured in her possession.
Now the tall weeds and grassesmight cluster around caesar's
little hermit hood.
The snow might fall on its roofyear in and year out, but he
never would go on a rampagethrough the unguarded village.
Now the little canary mightturn itself into a peaceful
yellow ball, night after night,and have no need to wake and
(34:38):
flutter with wild terror.
Against the spars, Louisa couldsew linen seams and distill
roses and dust and polish andfold away in lavender as long as
she listed.
That afternoon she sat with herneedlework at the window and
felt fairly steeped in peace.
Lily Dyer, tall and erect andblooming, went past but she felt
(34:59):
no qualm If Louisa Ellis hadsold her birthright.
She did not know it.
The taste of the pottage was sodelicious and had been her sole
satisfaction for so long.
Serenity and placid narrownesshad become to her as the
birthright itself.
She gazed ahead through a longreach of future days strung
(35:24):
together like pearls in a rosary, every one like the others, all
smooth and flawless andinnocent, and her heart went up
in thankfulness.
Outside was the fervid summerafternoon.
The air was filled with thesounds of the busy harvest of
men and birds and bees.
There were halloos, metallicclatterings, sweet calls and
(35:49):
long hummings.
Louisa sat prayerfullynumbering her days like an
uncloistered nun.
This has been a reading of ANew England Nun by.
(36:27):
Mary E Wilkins Freeman.
Thank you for listening to RonReads Boring Books.
Hello, this is Ron, with Ron Reads Boring Books and
today we have A New England Nunby Mary Wilkins.
Freeman Freeman, are you tired?
(00:30):
You will be A New England Nun.
It was late in the afternoonand the light was waning.
There was a difference in thelook of the tree shadows out in
the yard, somewhere in thedistance, cows were lowing and a
(00:55):
little bell was tinkling.
Now and then a farm wagontilted by and the dust flew.
Some blue-shirted laborers withshovels over their shoulders
plodded past.
Little swarms of flies weredancing up and down before the
people's faces.
In the soft air there seemed tobe a gentle stir arising over
(01:20):
everything for the mere sake ofsubsidence, subsidence,
everything for the mere sake ofsubsidence, a very premonition
of rest and hush and night.
This soft diurnal commotion wasover Louisa Ellis also.
She had been peacefully sewingat her sitting room window all
(01:44):
afternoon.
Now she quilted her needlecarefully into her work, which
she folded precisely and laid inthese little feminine
(02:05):
appurtenances which had become,from long use and constant
association, a very part of herpersonality.
Louisa tied a green apronaround her waist and got out a
flat straw hat with a greenribbon.
Then she went into the gardenwith a little blue crockery bowl
(02:27):
to pick some currants for hertea.
After the currants were picked,she sat on the back doorstep
and stemmed them, collecting thestems carefully in her apron
and afterwards throwing theminto the hen coop.
She looked sharply at the grassbeside the step to see if any
had fallen there.
(02:48):
Louisa was slow and still inher movements.
It took her a long time toprepare her tea, but when she
was ready it was set forth withas much grace as if she had been
a veritable guest to her ownself.
The little square table stoodexactly in the center of the
(03:08):
kitchen and was covered with astarched linen cloth whose
border pattern of flowersglistened.
Louisa had a dusk mask napkinon her tea tray, where were
arranged a cut glass tumblerfull of teaspoons, a silver
cream pitcher, a china sugarbowl and one pink china cup and
(03:33):
saucer.
Louisa used china every day,something which none of her
neighbors did.
They whispered about it amongthemselves.
Their daily tables were laidwith common crockery.
Their sets of the best chinastayed in the parlor closet, and
(03:54):
Louisa Ellis was no richer norbetter bred than they.
Still, she would use the china.
She had for her supper a glassdish full of sugared currants.
She had for her supper a glassdish full of sugared currants, a
plate of little cakes and oneof light white biscuits.
Also a leaf or two of lettucewhich she cut up daintily.
(04:17):
Louisa was very fond of lettucewhich she raised to perfection
in her little garden.
She ate quite heartily, thoughin a delicate pecking way.
It seemed almost surprisingthat any considerable bulk of
the food should vanish.
After tea she filled a platewith nicely baked thin corn
(04:39):
cakes and carried them out intothe backyard and carried them
out into the backyard Caesar shecalled Caesar Caesar.
There was a little rush and theclank of a chain and a large
yellow and white dog appeared atthe door of the tiny hut which
(05:02):
was half hidden in the tallgrasses and flowers.
Louisa patted him and gave himthe corn cakes.
Then she returned to the houseand washed the tea things,
polishing the china carefully.
The twilight had deepened.
The chorus of the frogs floatedin the open window wonderfully
(05:33):
loud and shrill, and once in awhile a long, sharp drone from a
tree toad pierced it.
Louisa took off her greengangam apron, disclosing a
shorter one of pink and whiteprint.
She lighted her lamp and satdown again with her sewing.
In about half an hour joedaggett came.
She heard his heavy step on thewalk and rose and took off her
(05:54):
pink and white apron.
Under that was still anotherwhite linen with a little
cambric edging on the bottom.
Little cambric edging on thebottom, that was Louisa's
company apron.
She never wore it without hercalico sewing apron over it,
unless she had a guest.
She had barely folded the pinkand white one with methodical
(06:15):
haste and laid it in a tabledrawer.
When the door opened and JoeDaggett entered he seemed to
fill up the whole room.
A little yellow canary that hadbeen asleep in his green cage
at the south window woke up andfluttered wildly, beating his
little yellow wings against thewires.
(06:35):
He always did so when JoeDaggett came in the room.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Good evening said Louisa.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
She extended her hand with a kind of solemn
cordiality.
Good evening.
Louisa, returned the man in aloud voice.
She placed a chair for him andthey sat facing each other, with
the table between them.
He sat bolt upright, towing outhis heavy feet squarely
(07:06):
glancing with a good-humoreduneasiness.
In the room she sat gentlyerect, folding her slender hands
in her white linen lap.
Been a pleasant day, remarkedDaggett.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Real pleasant.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Louisa assented softly.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Have you been hanging ?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
she asked after a little while.
Yes, I've been laying all daydown in the 10 acre lot pretty
hot work it must be yes, it'spretty hot work in the sun is
your mother.
Well, today yes, yes, mother,mother's pretty well.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
I suppose Lily Dyer's with her now.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Daggett colored.
Yes, she's with her.
He answered slowly.
He was not very young, butthere was a boyish look about
his large face.
Louisa was not quite as old ashe.
Her face was fairer andsmoother, but she gave people
(08:12):
the impression of being older.
I suppose she's a good deal ofhelp to your mother she said
further I guess she's a gooddeal of help to your mother.
She said further I guess she is.
I don't know how mother'd getalong without her, said Daggett,
with a sort of embarrassedwarmth.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
She looks like a real capable girl.
She's pretty looking tooremarked Louisa.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yes, she's pretty fair looking Presently.
Daggett began fingering thealbum on the gift book.
Louisa kept eyeing them withmild uneasiness.
Finally she rose and changedthe position of the books,
putting the album underneath.
That was the way they had beenarranged in the first place.
Daggett gave an awkward littlelaugh.
(09:19):
Daggett gave an awkward littlelaugh.
Now what difference did it make?
Which book was on top, he said.
Louisa looked at him with adeprecating smile.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
I always keep them that way murmured she.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
You do beat everything, said Daggett, trying
to laugh again.
His large face was flushed.
He remained about an hourlonger, then rose to take leave,
going out.
He stumbled over a rug and,trying to recover himself, hit
Louisa's work basket on thetable and knocked it on the
floor.
He looked at Louisa and then atthe rolling spools.
(09:59):
He ducked himself awkwardlytoward them, but she stopped him
.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Never mind she said I'll pick them up after you're
gone.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
She spoke with a mild stiffness.
Either she was a littledisturbed or his nervousness
affected her.
It made her seem constrained inher effort to reassure him.
When Joe Daggett was outside,he drew in the sweet evening air
with a sigh and felt as much aninnocent and perfectly
(10:31):
well-intentioned bear mightafter his exit from a china shop
.
Louisa, on her part, felt muchas the kind-hearted,
long-suffering owner of thechina shop might have done.
After the exit of the bear, shetied on the pink, then the
(10:53):
green apron, picked up all thescattered treasures and replaced
them in her work basket andstraightened the rug.
She then set the lamp on thefloor and began sharply
examining the carpet.
She even rubbed her fingersover it and looked at them.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
He's tracked in a good deal of dust she murmured.
I thought he must have.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Louisa got a dustpan and brush and swept Joe
Daggett's track carefully.
If he could have known it itwould have increased his
perplexed plexity and uneasiness, although it would not have
disturbed his loyalty in theleast.
He came twice a week to seeLouisa Ellis and every time,
(11:39):
sitting there in her delicatelysweet room, he felt as if
surrounded by a hedge of lace.
He was afraid to stir lest heshould put a clumsy foot or hand
through the airy web, and hehad always the consciousness
that Louisa was watchingfearfully lest he should Still
(12:01):
the lace.
And Louisa commanded perforcehis perfect respect and patience
and loyalty.
They were to be married in themonth after a singular courtship
which had lasted for a matterof 15 years.
For 14 out of the 15 years thetwo had not once seen each other
(12:23):
and they had seldom exchangedletters.
Joe had been all those years inAustralia where he had gone to
make his fortune and where hehad stayed until he made it.
He would have stayed fiftyyears if it had taken so long
and come home feebling andtottering, or never come home at
(12:45):
all, to marry Louisa.
But the fortune had been madein the fourteen years and he had
come now to marry the woman whohad been patiently and
unquestioningly waiting for himall that time.
Shortly after they were engaged, he had announced to Louisa his
determination to strike outinto new fields and secure a
(13:06):
competency before they should bemarried.
She had listened and assentedwith the sweet serenity which
never failed her, not even whenher lover set forth on that long
and uncertain journey.
Joe, buoyed up as he was by hissturdy determination, broke
down a little at the last, butLouisa kissed him with a mild
(13:27):
blush and said goodbye.
It won't be for long, poor Joe,had said huskily, but it was
for fourteen years.
In that length of time much hadhappened.
Louisa's mother and brother haddied and she was all alone in
the world.
But the greatest happening ofall, a subtle happening which
(13:48):
both were too simple tounderstand Louisa's feet had
turned into a path, smooth maybeunder a calm, serene sky, but
so straight and unswerving thatit could only meet a check at
her grave and so narrow thatthere was no room for anyone at
her side.
(14:09):
Louisa's first emotion when JoeDaggett came home he had not
appraised her of his coming wasconsternation, although she
would not admit it to herself.
Coming was consternation,although she would not admit it
to herself, and he never dreamedof it.
Fifteen years ago, she had beenin love with him.
At least she considered herselfto be Just at that time.
(14:30):
Gently acquiescing with thefalling into the natural drift
of girlhood, she had seenmarriage ahead as a reasonable
feature and a probabledesirability of life.
She had listened with calmdocility to her mother's views
upon the subject.
Her mother was remarkable forher cool sense and sweet, even
(14:52):
temperament.
She talked wisely to herdaughter when Joe Daggett
presented himself and Louisaaccepted him with no hesitation.
He was the first lover she everhad.
He had been faithful.
She had been faithful to himall these years.
She had never dreamed of thepossibility of marrying anyone
(15:14):
else.
Her life, especially for thelast seven years, had been full
of pleasant peace.
She had never felt discontentednor impatient over her lover's
absence.
Still, she had always lookedforward to his return and their
marriage was the inevitableconclusion of things.
However, she had fallen into away of placing it so far in the
(15:37):
future that it was almost equalto placing it over the
boundaries of another life.
When Joe came, she had beenexpecting him and expecting to
be married for 14 years, but shewas as much surprised and taken
(15:58):
aback as if she had neverthought of it.
Joe's consternation came later.
He eyed Louisa with an instantconfirmation of his old
admiration.
She had changed but little.
She still kept her prettymanner and soft grace and was he
(16:20):
considered every wit, asattractive as ever.
As for himself, his stint wasdone.
He had turned his face awayfrom fortune-seeking and in the
old winds of romance, whistledas loud and sweet as ever
through his ears.
All the song which he had beenwont to hear in them was louisa.
(16:41):
He had for a long time a loyalbelief that he heard it still.
But finally it seemed to himthat although the wind sang,
never more than murmured.
Now it had gone down,everything was still.
She listened for a little whilewith half-wistful attention.
(17:06):
Then she turned quietly awayand went to work on her wedding
clothes.
Joe had made some extensive andquite magnificent alterations in
his house.
It was the old homestead thenewly married couple would live
there, for joe could not deserthis mother who refused to leave
her old home.
(17:29):
About among her neat maidenlypossessions, she felt as one
looking her last upon the facesof dear friends.
It was true that in a measureshe could take them with her,
but robbed of their oldenvironments, they would appear
in such new guises that theywould almost cease to be
(17:52):
themselves.
Then there were some peculiarfeatures of her happy, solitary
life which she would probably beobliged to relinquish
altogether.
Sterner tasks than thesegraceful but half-needless ones
would probably devolve upon her.
There would be a large house tocare for, there would be
(18:12):
company to entertain, therewould be Joe's rigorous and
feeble old mother to wait upon,and it would be contrary to all
thrifty village traditions forher to keep more than one
servant.
Louisa had a little still, andshe used to occupy herself
pleasantly in summer weatherwith distilling the sweet and
(18:33):
aromatic essences from roses andpeppermint.
And spearmint by and by herstill must be laid away.
Her store of essences wasalready considerable and there
would be no time for her todistill for the mere pleasure of
it.
Then Joe's mother would thinkit foolishness.
She had already hinted heropinion in the matter.
(18:53):
Louisa dearly loved to sew alinen seam, not always for use
but for the simple, mildpleasure which she took in it.
She would have been loath toconfess how more than once she
had ripped a seam for the meredelight of sewing it together
again Sitting at her windowduring long, sweet afternoons,
(19:21):
drawing her needle gentlythrough the dainty fabric.
She was peace itself.
But there was small chance ofsuch foolish comfort in that
future.
Joe's mother, domineering,shrewd old matron that she was
even in her old age.
Joe's mother, domineeringshrewd old matron that she was
(19:51):
even in her old age.
And very likely even Joehimself with his honest,
masculine rudeness would laughand frown down all these pretty
but senseless old maiden ways.
Louisa had almost theenthusiasm of an artist over the
mere order and cleanliness ofher solitary home.
She had throbs of genuinetriumph at the sight of the
window panes which she hadpolished until they shone like
jewels.
She gloated gently over herorderly bureau drawers with
their exquisitely foldedcontents, redolent with lavender
(20:13):
and sweet clover and verypurity.
Could she be sure of theendurance of even this?
She had visions so startlingthat she half repudiated them as
indelicate of coarse masculinebelongings strewn about in
endless litter of dust anddisorder arising necessarily
(20:36):
from a coarse masculine presencein the midst of all this
delicate harmony.
Among her forebodings ofdisturbance, not the least was
with regard to Caesar.
Caesar was a veritable hermit ofa dog.
For the greater part of hislife he had dwelt in his
secluded hut, shut out from thesociety of his kind and all
innocent canine joys.
(20:57):
Never had Caesar, since hisearly youth, watched at a
woodchuck's hole, never had heknown the delights of a stray
bone at a neighbor's kitchendoor.
And it was all on account of asin committed when, hardly out
of his puppyhood.
No one knew the possible depthof remorse of which this mild
(21:19):
visaged, altogetherinnocent-looking dog might be
capable.
But whether or not he hadencountered remorse, he had
encountered a full measure ofrighteous retribution.
Old Caesar seldom lifted up hisvoice in a growl or bark.
He was fat and sleepy.
There were yellow rings whichlooked like spectacles around
(21:40):
his dim old eyes.
But there was a neighbor whobore on his hand the imprint of
several of Caesar's sharp, white, youthful teeth, and for that
he had lived at the end of achain, all alone in a little hut
for fourteen years.
All alone in a little hut.
For fourteen years.
The neighbor, who was cholericand smarting with the pain of
(22:03):
his wound, had demanded eitherCaesar's death or complete
ostracism.
So Louisa's brother, to whomthe dog had belonged, had built
him his little kennel and tiedhim up.
It was now fourteen years since, in a flood of youthful spirits
, he had inflicted thatmemorable bite and, with the
(22:23):
exception of short excursions,always at the end of the chain,
under the strict guardianship ofhis master or Louisa, the old
dog had remained a closeprisoner.
It is doubtful if, with hislimited ambition, he took much
pride in the fact, but it iscertain that he was possessed of
considerable cheap fame.
(22:44):
He was regarded by all thechildren in the village and by
many adults as a very monster offerocity.
St George's dragon could hardlyhave surpassed an evil repute,
louisa Ellis's old yellow dog.
Mothers charged their childrenwith solemn emphasis not to go
(23:04):
too near to him, and thechildren listened and believed
greedily, with a fascinatedappetite for terror, and ran by
Louisa's house stealthily, withmany sidelong and backward
glances at the terrible dog.
If perchance he sounded a horsebark, there was a panic.
(23:25):
Wayfarers chancing intoLouisa's yard, eyed him with
respect and inquired.
If the chain were stout, caesarat large might have seemed a
very ordinary dog and excited.
No, no comment whatever.
Chained.
His reputation overshadowed himso that he lost his own proper
outlines and looked darkly vagueand enormous.
(23:46):
Joe daggett, however, with hisgood-humored sense of shrewdness
, saw him as he was.
He strode valiantly up to himand patted him on the head in
spite of Louisa's soft clamor ofwarning, and even attempted to
set him loose.
Louisa grew so alarmed that shedesisted but kept announcing
his opinion in the matter quiteforcibly at intervals.
(24:08):
There ain't no better naturedog in town, he would say, and
it's downright cruel to keep himtied up there.
Someday I'm going to take himout.
Louisa had very little hope thathe would not one of these days
when their interest andpossession should be more
completely fused in one.
(24:29):
She pictured to herself Caesaron the rampage through the quiet
and unguarded village.
She saw innocent childrenbleeding in his path.
She was herself very fond ofthe old dog because he had
belonged to her dead brother andhe was always very gentle with
her.
Still, she had great faith inhis ferocity.
(24:52):
She always warned people not togo too near him.
She fed him on ascetic fare ofcorn, mush and cakes and never
fired his dangerous temper withheating and sanguinary diet of
flesh and bones.
Louisa looked at the old dogmunching his simple fare and
(25:12):
thought of her approachingmarriage and trembled and
thought of her approachingmarriage and trembled Still.
No anticipation of disorder andconfusion in lieu of sweet
peace and harmony.
No forebodings of Caesar on therampage, no wild fluttering of
her little yellow canary weresufficient to warn her.
A hair's breadth.
Joe Daggett had been fond ofher and working for her all
(25:38):
these years.
It was not for her.
Whatever came to pass, to proveuntrue and break his heart, she
put the exquisite littlestitches into her wedding
garments, and the time went onuntil it was only a week before
her wedding day.
It was a Tuesday evening andthe wedding was to be a week
from Wednesday.
There was a full moon thatnight.
(26:04):
About nine o'clock Louisastrolled down the road a little
way.
There were harvest fields oneither hand, bordered by low
stone walls.
Luxurious clumps of bushes grewinside the wall and trees, wild
cherry and old apple trees atintervals.
Presently, louisa sat down onthe wall and looked about her
with mildly sorrowfulreflectiveness.
Tall shrubs of blueberry andmeadow sweet all wove together
(26:30):
and tangled with blackberryvines, and horse priors shut her
in on either side.
She had a little clear spacebetween them.
Opposite her, on the other sideof the road, was a spreading
tree.
The moon shone between itsboughs and the leaves twinkled
like silver.
The road was bespread with abeautiful shifting dapple of
(26:54):
silver and shadow.
The air was full of mysterioussweetness.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
I wonder if it's wild grapes murmured Louisa.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
She sat there some time.
She was just thinking of risingwhen she heard footsteps and
low voices and remained quiet.
It was a lonely place and shefelt a little timid.
She thought she would keepstill in the shadow and let the
persons, whoever they might be,pass her.
Just before they reached her,the voices ceased and the
footsteps.
(27:24):
She understood that theirowners had also found seats upon
the stone wall.
She was wondering if she couldnot steal away unobserved.
When the voice broke thestillness, it was Joe Daggett's.
She sat still and listened.
The voice was announced by LaoTsai, which was familiar as
(27:45):
itself.
Well said, daggett, you've madeup your mind then I suppose.
Yes, returned another voice.
I'm going day after tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
That's.
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Lily Dyer thought Louisa to herself.
The voice embodied itself inher mind.
She saw a girl, tall andfull-figured, with a firm, fair
face, looking fairer and firmerin the moonlight, her strong
yellow hair braided in a closeknot.
A girl full of calm, rustic,strength and bloom with a
masterful way which might havebestemed a princess.
(28:26):
Lily Dyer was a favorite withthe village folk.
She had just the qualities toarouse the admiration.
She was good and handsome andsmart.
Louisa had often heard herpraises sounded.
Well, said Joe Daggett.
I ain't got a word to say.
I don't know what you could sayreturned Lily Dyer, not a word
(28:50):
to say.
Repeated Joe drawing out thewords heavily.
Then there was silence drawingout the words heavily, then
there was silence.
I ain't sorry he began at last,that that happened yesterday,
that we kind of let on how wefelt to each other.
I guess it's just as well weknew.
(29:13):
Of course I can't do anythingany different.
I'm going right on and gettingmarried next week.
I ain't going back on a womanthat's waited for me 14 years
and break her heart.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
If you should jilt her tomorrow, I wouldn't have
you spoke up the girl withsudden vehemence.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Well, I ain't going to give you the chance, said he,
but I won't believe you wouldeither.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
You see, I wouldn't Honor's honor, and that's right,
and I'd never think of anything, of any man that went against
him, for me or any other girl.
You'd find that out, joeDaggett.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Well, you'll find out fast enough that I ain't going
against him for you or any othergirl.
You'd find that out, JoeTaggett.
Well, you'll find out fastenough that I ain't going
against him for you or any othergirl, returned he.
Then voices sounded almost asif they were angry with each
other.
Louisa was listening eagerly.
I'm sorry you felt as if youmust go away, said Joe, but I
don't know.
But it's best.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Of course it's best.
I hope you and I have gotcommon sense.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Well, I suppose you're right.
Suddenly Joe's voice got anundertone of tenderness.
Say Lily, said he.
I'll get along well enoughmyself.
But I can't bear to think youdon't suppose you're going to
fret much over it.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I guess you'll find out, I shan't fret much over a
married man.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Well, I hope you won't.
I hope you won't, lily, godknows I do, and I hope one of
these days you'll come acrosssomebody else.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
I don't see any reason why I shouldn't.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Suddenly, her tone changed.
She spoke in a sweet, clearvoice, so loud that she could
have been heard across thestreet.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
No, joe Daggett she said I'll never marry another
man as long as I live.
I've got good sense and I ain'tgoing to break my heart nor
make a fool of myself.
But I'm never going to bemarried, you can be sure of that
.
I ain't that sort of girl tofeel this way twice.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Louisa heard an exclamation and a soft commotion
behind the bushes.
Then Lily spoke again.
The voice sounded as if shehadn't risen.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
This must be put a stop to she said we have stayed
here long enough.
I'm going home.
Stop to she said, said she.
We have stayed here long enough.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
I'm going home.
Louisa sat there in a dazelistening to their retreating
steps.
After a while she got up andslunk softly home herself.
The next day she did herhousework methodically.
That was as much a matter ofcourse as breathing.
(32:13):
But she did not sew on herwedding clothes.
She sat at her window andmeditated.
In the evening Joe came.
Louisa Ellis had never knownthat she had any diplomacy in
her, but when she came to lookfor it that night she found it,
although meek of its kind, amongher little feminine weapons.
Even now she could hardlybelieve that she had heard
(32:34):
aright and that she would not doJoe a terrible injury should
she break their troth plight.
She wanted to sound him withoutbetraying too soon her own
inclinations in the matter.
She did it successfully andfinally came to an understanding
.
But it was a difficult thing,for he was afraid of betraying
himself as she.
(32:55):
She never mentioned Lily Dyer.
She simply said that, while shehad no cause of complaint
against him, she had lived solong in one way that she shrank
from making a change.
Well, I never shrank, louisasaid.
Daggett, I'm going to be honestwith you, honest enough to say
that I think maybe it's betterthis way.
But if you'd wanted to keep on,I'd have stuck to you till my
(33:18):
dying day.
I hope you know that.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Yes, I do said she.
Speaker 1 (33:24):
That night she and Joe parted more tenderly than
they had done for a long time.
That night, she and Joe partedmore tenderly than they had done
for a long time, Standing inthe door holding each other's
hands.
A last great wave of regretfulmemory swept over them.
Well, this ain't the way wethought it was all going to end,
is it Louisa?
Said Joe.
She shook her head.
(33:53):
There was a little quiver onher placid face.
You let me know if there's everanything I can do for you, said
he.
I ain't ever gonna forget you,Louisa.
Then he kissed her and wentdown the path.
Louisa, all alone, by herself.
That nightpt a little.
She hardly knew why.
But the next morning on waking,she felt like a queen who,
after fearing lest her domain bewrested away from her, sees it
(34:16):
firmly insured in her possession.
Now the tall weeds and grassesmight cluster around caesar's
little hermit hood.
The snow might fall on its roofyear in and year out, but he
never would go on a rampagethrough the unguarded village.
Now the little canary mightturn itself into a peaceful
yellow ball, night after night,and have no need to wake and
(34:38):
flutter with wild terror.
Against the spars, Louisa couldsew linen seams and distill
roses and dust and polish andfold away in lavender as long as
she listed.
That afternoon she sat with herneedlework at the window and
felt fairly steeped in peace.
Lily Dyer, tall and erect andblooming, went past but she felt
(34:59):
no qualm If Louisa Ellis hadsold her birthright.
She did not know it.
The taste of the pottage was sodelicious and had been her sole
satisfaction for so long.
Serenity and placid narrownesshad become to her as the
birthright itself.
She gazed ahead through a longreach of future days strung
(35:24):
together like pearls in a rosary, every one like the others, all
smooth and flawless andinnocent, and her heart went up
in thankfulness.
Outside was the fervid summerafternoon.
The air was filled with thesounds of the busy harvest of
men and birds and bees.
There were halloos, metallicclatterings, sweet calls and
(35:49):
long hummings.
Louisa sat prayerfullynumbering her days like an
uncloistered nun.
This has been a reading of ANew England Nun by.
(36:27):
Mary E Wilkins Freeman.
Thank you for listening to RonReads Boring Books.
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