So I have done with you, unless in your old age God should bring
you to such a pass that no one else will come to your assistance;
then I'd see somehow that you were cared for and nursed and made
comfortable. You are not an old man; you are strong and healthy,
and you have plenty of money to get a good house-keeper. I should
decide differently, perhaps, if all this were not true."
"You lie! I haven't got plenty of money!" And the Deacon struck
the table a sudden blow that made the china in the cupboard
rattle. "You've no notion what this house costs me, an' the feed
for the stock, an' you two girls, an' labor at the store, an' the
hay-field, an' the taxes an' insurance! I've slaved from sunrise
to sunset but I ain't hardly been able to lay up a cent. I s'pose
the neighbors have been fillin' you full o' tales about my
mis'able little savin's an' makin' 'em into a fortune. Well, you
won't git any of 'em, I promise you that!"
"You have plenty laid away; everybody knows, so what's the use of
denying it? Anyway, I don't want a penny of your money, father,
so good-bye. There's enough cooked to keep you for a couple of
days"; and Waitstill rose from her chair and drew on her mittens.
Father and daughter confronted each other, the secret fury of the
man met by the steady determination of the girl.
Pages:
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286