Eunice , promise me this ! '' In her excitement the sick woman raised herself up in the bed , and clutched the girl 's thin arm . Her eyes were blazing and two scarlet spots glowed in her thin cheeks . Eunice 's face was white and tense . She clasped her hands as one in prayer . `` Mother , I promise it ! '' Naomi relaxed her grip on the girl 's arm and sank back exhausted on the pillow . A death-like look came over her face as the excitement faded . `` My mind is easier now . But if I could only have lived another year or two ! And I hate Car ` line -- hate her ! Eunice , do n't you ever let her abuse my boy ! If she did , or if you neglected him , I 'd come back from my grave to you ! As for the property , things will be pretty straight . I 've seen to that . There 'll be no squabbling and doing Christopher out of his rights . He 's to have the farm as soon as he 's old enough to work it , and he 's to provide for you . And , Eunice , remember what you 've promised ! '' Outside , in the thickly gathering dusk , Caroline Holland and Sarah Spencer were at the dairy , straining the milk into creamers , for which Christopher was sullenly pumping water . The house was far from the road , up to which a long red lane led ; across the field was the old Holland homestead where Caroline lived ; her unmarried sister-in-law , Electa Holland , kept house for her while she waited on Naomi .
It was her night XXXXX go home and sleep , but Naomi 's words haunted her , although she believed they were born of pure `` cantankerousness . ''
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