"Come after me if you will, father, and watch the welcome I shall
get. Oh! I have no fear of being turned out by Ivory Boynton. I
can hardly wait to give him the joy I shall be bringing! It 's
selfish to rob him of the chance to speak first, but I'11 do it!"
And before Deacon Baxter could cross the room, Waitstill was out
of the kitchen door into the shed, and flying down Town-House
Hill like an arrow shot free from the bow.
The Deacon followed close behind, hardly knowing why, but he was
no match for the girl, and at last he stood helpless on the steps
of the shed, shaking his fist and hurling terrible words after
her, words that it was fortunate for her peace of mind she could
not hear.
"A curse upon you both!" he cried savagely. "Not satisfied with
disobeyin' an' defyin' me, you've put me to shame, an' now you'll
be settin' the neighbors ag'in' me an' ruinin' my trade. If you
was freezin' in the snow I wouldn't heave a blanket to you! If
you was starvin' I wouldn't fling either of you a crust! Never
shall you darken my doors again, an' never shall you git a penny
o' my money, not if I have to throw it into the river to spite
you!"
Here his breath failed, and he stumbled out into the barn
whimpering between his broken sentences like a whipped child.
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