She was ambitious and her future offered as large a field for advancement as she could conceive. The Levis farm was in poor condition, but the land was fertile and the buildings were solid. On the other side of the wood-crowned ridge ran a vein of limestone which could be made a source of profit--Matthew had told her long ago of his desire to develop it, together with many other secret wishes.
"Five years of careful economy," said Matthew now. "Then we shall not need to travel with horses"--this with actual as well as figurative meaning.
On the evening of his father's funeral he laid before Millie his completed plans. He came to the door of the farmhouse and asked her to walk with him to the gate.
"Yes," said Millie with a becoming sigh. "I was there this afternoon. I thought your Gran'pop laid things out right to those of us that are left."
Matthew had no desire to discuss his grandfather's sermon which had decently omitted many things that might have been said. He had no sense of triumph; he accepted God's will when it profited him as he accepted it when it sent him to work in the Ephrata stocking factory. His mind was upon Millie; in the twilight he put his arm round her and drew her close to him. Her cheek was like a rose petal and her whole body breathed freshness and health.
"How soon could you get married, Millie?"
"I'm ready now," she answered promptly. "I have all my things this long time, and it's not like going into a house where there is nothing."
Millie saw no reason for even a week's delay. An intense impatience filled her soul.
Matthew shook his head. A heavenly providence had delivered Ellen into improving hands.
"She can't accept this. It's so with people who are not religious."
"She needn't think that she will have it too hard. Everything can be pretty much like always. I think we should even put away the bedding and things like that for her. I shouldn't like her to say that I used what should be for her _Aussteir_."
Matthew tightened his arm round this thoughtful creature. He had come a long, hard way to his happiness, but it promised to be worth the journey.
The next day Millie counted her sheets and blankets and table-cloths and her many pieced quilts, made in long winter afternoons to an accompaniment of steady sisterly chatter. No bride of the neighborhood had ever had so fine an assortment.