"I dunno how much
that wood-cuttin' come to, an' he won't know to-night if I wake him
up. I can't get it through his head. But I'll buy it to-morrow if
there's money enough left."
But Deborah was forced to wait a few weeks, since it took all the
interest-money for the parish taxes and to pay for the wood-cutting.
She had to wait until Caleb had sold some of the wood, and that took
some time, since seller and purchasers were slow-motioned.
At last, one afternoon, she drove herself over to Bolton in the
chaise to buy the dress. She went to Bolton, because she would not go
herself to Silas Berry's store and trade with William. She could send
Caleb there for household goods, but this dress she would trust no
one but herself to purchase.
She had planned that Rebecca should go with her, but the girl looked
so utterly wan and despairing that day that she forbore to insist
upon it. Caleb would have accompanied her, but she would not let him.
"I never did think much of men-folks standin' round in stores gawpin'
while women-folks was tradin'," said she. She would not allow Ephraim
to go, although he pleaded hard. It was quite a cold day, and she was
afraid of the sharp air for his laboring breath.
A little after noon she set forth, all alone in the chaise, slapping
the reins energetically over the white horse's back, a thick green
veil tied over her bonnet under her chin, and the thin, sharp wedge
of face visible between the folds crimsoning in the frosty wind.
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