Uncle Jacob handed me the Bible with his
thumb on the section he wanted read.
I began. "Who can find a virtuous woman? For
her price is far above rubies.
"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in
her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
"She will do him good and not evil all the days
of her life."
I gazed quickly at Cary because I felt the heat
of his eyes on me as I read.
"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh
willingly with her hands."
"Yes," Uncle Jacob said nodding, obviously
pleased with how I read.
Cary glanced down as I continued until the
chapter was completed.
"Good," Uncle Jacob said. "Words to
remember. Amen." His eyes fixed on me. I knew what
he thought of my mother. Did he choose this chapter
because he thought I would be just like her? I was
afraid to ask.
As soon as we began to eat, Uncle Jacob and
Cary got into a conversation about the lobster catch
and the construction of more traps. While they talked,
I tried to converse with May. I saw Cary watching us
out of the corner of his eye, and something I did
brought a smile to his face. But Uncle Jacob suddenly
looked furious.
"Will you tell your daughter to eat and not talk
at dinner," he commanded Aunt Sara. "It's