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gute price?”
    “This fall I will have enough to build a small house on the farm and move the boys and Scilla in with me.”
    Laura stared at Seth in astonishment. “What will Dat say?”
    “Do you honestly think he will care?”
    “Of course he will care, Seth. Why are you so hard on him?”
    “Maybe because he’s never done anything to prove me wrong. If he would stick up for his own kinna, I wouldn’t have to.”
    “But to take his children?”
    “Ellie and Dat haven’t had much time alone since they married three years ago,” Seth said. “I will plant the idea in her head and she will convince Dat in no time. She always does.”
    “But how will you support yourself?”
    Seth shrugged. “We will get by. I may not know how to do calculus, but I can add numbers. I will work extra shifts at the mill. Joshua and Jacob can help with the horses and farming. I already pay for most of the food that comes into this house.”
    Laura smiled with restrained gladness. “If we had our own house, I wouldn’t have to put up with Ellie during Christmas break. I could send money home every month from my job.”
    “Nae, keep your money. College is expensive. I will manage.”
    Someone stepped lightly up the stairs to the attic. “Seth,” they heard Scilla say as she knocked softly on the door, “Mamm says come down for dinner or we will eat without you and if you think you can eat later you got another think coming. And Laura too. And wash your hands.”
    Seth opened the door and invited Scilla into the room. He sat down on the bed and pulled Scilla onto his lap. Pointing to Laura, he said, “Look at your sister, Scilla. She’s pretty, ain’t not?”
    “Jah,” agreed Scilla, “she is the prettiest.”
    Seth smoothed the hair sticking out of Scilla’s bob. “I hope you grow up as pretty as her.”
    “Ach, stop with the flattery,” Laura said, but she smiled and blushed bright red.
    “You are very pretty, Laura. Don’t ever let Ellie tell you otherwise, either of you.”
    They heard Pookie from two flights down, yapping his annoyance at Dat’s arrival. Seth scooped Scilla in his arms and hopped down the stairs. Although Ellie was an excellent cook, Seth seldom looked forward to supper with the family. Ellie’s company proved irksome.
    Seth sighed. “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land.” He recited that verse to himself several times a day.
    Ach, if only he could root this knot of resentment from his heart— resentment for his dat’s indifference, his stepmother’s selfishness, and his mother’s death. Seth resolved to pray harder to show more kindness to those who trespassed against him.
    Trespassed against him.
    As soon as the thought formed in his mind, he cringed at his own arrogance. How could he justify holding on to supposed wrongs when his own behavior was so imperfect? Who was he to criticize a mote in someone’s eye with a beam in his own?
    A stab of guilt caught him between the shoulder blades as he thought of his behavior toward Miriam Bontrager. He shouldn’t have let his irritation take control of his nobler instincts. No amount of bad treatment justified hurting her feelings. What a hypocrite he was!
    Seth placed Scilla on her stool and sat in his place next to Joshua. The moment Laura plopped into her chair, Dat bowed his head and the rest of the family followed in silent grace. Seth breathed in the mouthwatering aromas—mashed sweet potatoes with cinnamon, fried chicken, and corn.
    The actual serving of the food went slowly, because Ellie insisted on dishing up the food for everyone. Each family member waited patiently— and quietly—for Ellie to serve Dat first, then Scilla, and on up to Seth.
    And no one thought about wasting even one bite. They ate what Ellie spooned for them. No more, no less.
    Once Ellie served herself, she sat across the table from Dat and declared that the eating could begin.
    Ellie had impeccable table manners and ate as