`` I would n't care if it was true . '' His married sister from Carlisle heard the story and came over to investigate . Young Thomas denied it shortly , and his sister scolded . She had devoutly hoped it was true , she said , and it would have been a great weight off her mind . `` This house is in a disgraceful condition , Thomas , '' she said severely . `` It would break Mother 's heart if she could rise out of her grave to see it . And Adelia Williams is a perfect housekeeper . '' `` You did n't use to think so much of the Williams crowd , '' said Young Thomas drily . `` Oh , some of them do n't amount to much , '' admitted Maria , `` but Adelia is all right . '' Catching sight of an odd look on Young Thomas 's face , she added hastily , `` Thomas Everett , I believe it 's true after all . Now , is it ? For mercy 's sake do n't be so sly . You might tell me , your own and only sister , if it is . '' `` Oh , shut up , '' was Young Thomas 's unfeeling reply to his own and only sister . Young Thomas told himself that night that Valley View gossip would drive him into an asylum yet if it did n't let up . He also wondered if Adelia was as much persecuted as himself . No doubt she was . He never could catch her eye in church now , but he would have been surprised had he realized how many times he tried to . The climax came the third week in May , when Young Thomas , who had been keeping house for himself for three weeks , received a letter and an express box from his cousin , Charles Everett , out in Manitoba . Charles and he had been chums in their boyhood .
They corresponded occasionally still , although it was twenty years since XXXXX had gone west .
Adelia Carlisle Charles Everett Maria Mother Thomas Williams night weeks