Hung?he muttered.I wish,by godfreys mighty,I had the hangin'of SOME folks!I'd put a tighter collar on 'em than they've got now,I bet you!The minister's lips twitched.He knew what was coming.Hints of a surprising nature had been circulating about Trumet.
What's the matter,Mr.Pepper?he asked.
Matter?Matter enough!You know what she's goin'to do?She's goin'to marry THAT!The last word was emphasized by a furious gesticulation toward the back of the gentleman from Sandwich.
Who?Mr.Pratt?Is your sister to marry him?Indeed!Icongratulate them both--and you.
Me?What in tunket--I ask your pardon,Mr.Ellery,for talkin'so in the meetin'house--but what are you congratulatin'me for?Why,because your sister is to have a good husband;at least people speak highly of him.Ugh!
And because--well,Mr.Pepper,you have been quite confidential with me;we have shared secrets,you know;and I thought possibly the new arrangement might make it a bit more pleasant for you.Pleasant?How?
I suppose Mr.Pratt will take his bride home to Sandwich,and you,being here alone,will be more free.Free?Kyan repeated the word wrathfully.Free!I'll be about as free as a settin'hen under a barrel,I will.Is a feller free when he's got two pickin'at him instead of one?I thought I was goin'to have a little peace and comfort;I thought that same as you,Mr.Ellery.I've had my suspicions as to her and him for some time.That day when I cal'lated I'd locked her up and come back to find she'd gone buggy ridin',I thought 'twas queer.When she went to conference and left me alone I smelt a rat.When she took to letter writin'the smell got stronger;until the last few weeks I've been sartin of the game she was up to.And I never complained,no sir!Some brothers would have ripped up the eternal foundations afore they'd have let their sister break up their home and desert 'em for a stiff-necked,bald-headed old shoe peddler like--Hush!hush!Mr.Pepper.You forget--
No,I don't forget,nuther.Mr.Ellery,you don't know it all.
When Laviny come to me and told me what she was goin'to do,was Iobstinate?Did I stand on my rights as head of the family and tell her she couldn't do it?No,sir-ee,I didn't!I was resigned.Isays to her,'Laviny,'I says,'I won't say that I shan't be turrible lonesome without you.I won't say that I ain't sort of shocked and grieved at our partin'after all these years.But what's my personal feelin's when I compare 'em with your happiness?
Nothin',nothin'at all!'I says.'Bless you,Laviny,'says I.
'When you goin'to go away?'And what do you s'pose she says to me?Why,that she wa'n't goin'away at all.That--that Pratt thing has sold out his shoe store up to Sandwich and is comin'here to live.Comin'to live at our HOUSE,mind you,with her and with ME!Twill be so nice for you,'Bishy dear,'she says,'to have a man in the house to keep you comp'ny and look out for you when Iain't round.'Godfreys mighty!
This portion of Kyan's disclosure was surprising,if the announcement of his sister's engagement was not.
Mr.Pratt is coming to Trumet?the minister repeated.What for?What is he going to do here?
Keep shoe store,I s'pose likely.Laviny says there's a good openin'for one in this town.I told her the best openin'I could think of for him was the well and I hoped to the nation he'd fall into it.Then she went for me like a dogfish after a herrin'and Inever had a taste of vittles till I'd took it all back and said Iwas glad he was goin'to live with us.Free!Don't talk to me about freedom!Godfreys mighty!Ellery smothered his desire to laugh and expressed sympathy.
Abishai listened in sullen silence.
Well,he said,turning to go,I ain't goin'to stand it,if Ican help it.I've been doin'some thinkin'on my own account and there's two ways of gettin'even.That Caleb critter is marryin' into our family 'cause he knows I'm well off.I'll cheat him,by godfreys!I'll will every cent of my fifteen hundred dollars to the poor or the heathen or somethin'.I will,sure's taxes.The minister was obliged to laugh,then.
I wouldn't do that,he said.From what I hear,Mr.Pratt is worth several times fifteen hundred.I know it;but he's so dum mean that 'twould break his heart to see even ten cents gettin'away from him.However,that ain't my only plan.He and Laviny ain't got any mortgage on the marryin' business.Other folks can do it as well as them.What do you think of Hannah Poundberry?What do I think of her?What do you mean?
