"
I couldn't say no more than that, and he nodded and answered me that he
didn't know but what I might be right.
"There's not your equal for sense in the parish," he told me, and being
worked up a bit that evening, I very near gave him an impatient answer;
but that ain't my way: I just held in and told him that I was glad he
thought so, and I believed he weren't the only one. Then he took a curious
look at me and said "Good evening," and went on his way.
And, strange to tell, that last word of mine gave me an idea. Looking back
I can see what tremendous things was hid in that chance speech, for it
decided my life in a manner of speaking. Of course when I told Greg he
weren't the only one, I used a figure of speech and no more, because there
weren't none else and never had been; but now, as I unrayed for bed, I
asked myself how it would be if there was another after me, and though
very well knowing that no such thing could possibly happen, I let the
thought run, pictured myself with another string to my old bow, and
wondered what Mr. Sweet would do then.
I certainly paid the man the compliment of feeling sure, when he heard
that, he'd throw caution to the winds and go for me; and since there
wasn't in sober truth another as had looked upon me with any serious
resolves, I had to set about the matter. The Lord helps those who help
themselves, but not if they be up to anything underhand or devious, as a
rule, and though I might have invented a tale to hoodwink Gregory Sweet,
that must have got back on my conscience, besides being a dangerous thing.
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