She was a lot cut up about it and poured
scorn on herself and appeared very wishful to please me in the matter; but
there wasn't no more love-making, of course; and to make Jenny understand
the gulf that now separated us, I let her pay for her own tea. I loved her
still most ardent, but I meant for everything to be done decent and in
order; and so far as I am able to see, both of 'em fell in with my wishes
and waited for my future commands.
Then a most amazing thing fell out, and Jenny, who had spent an afternoon
with her father, told me he was very wishful to see me. So I called on the
man and heard news that astonished me a good bit.
Joshua Owlet was changed to the roots! He told me a story that chimed very
close with my own wishes, and for that reason I was tardy to believe it;
but he gave me chapter and verse, and when I heard my own life was got in
danger, I did believe it as the safest course to pursue.
"That Bond is a rogue, William," Joshua began, and he was terrible excited
from the start off.
"I'm inclined to agree with you," I answered, "for he's done a dirty thing
and, so far as I can tell, he's worked very artful to get Jenny away from
me, which no honest man would have set out to do."
"That's nothing," he answered. "The girl has been a fool and still is; but
the point is this. While she was all for him, Bond felt the going good;
but now, along of your high-minded action and the way you've took it, and
the way he's took it, and what I've said, she's in two minds yet.
Pages:
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318