Melody (Logan 1)

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