“If you stop the night over, we’ll publish it all abroad, Jancis
Beguildy!”
And then I be sorry to say my temper was out, and I rushed at her and
boxed her ears right well.
“Go!” I says. “Go, you cruel wench, afore I maul you. I never hated
afore. But you I hate. How dare you be so curst to that poor child? You
may settle with Gideon what you both do. But when you come over the
door-sill, out go I. And for this day, out go you!”
And I may say she went pretty quick, very startled to see meek Prue Sarn
in such a temper.
“Now lie you still, and rest, my dear,” I said. “While I go to Gideon.”
“No. Dunna werrit Sarn, Prue,” she says. “But I’ll rest. Ah. Baby and
me’s both in need of rest. We’ll take a good long rest, Prue. And thank
you kindly for all.”
Out I went. There was Gideon, working like seven. I do believe those
unkind words he said to Jancis were but his way of brazening it out to
his own heart. I do believe there was a seed of love there even then,
and if it hadna been for Tivvy it might have pushed up and flowered. I
was never one to hiver-hover over things, so I walked up to Gideon and
said—
“Tivvy says you gave Mother poison. Be it true?”
“By gum, that wench wants a good hiding!” says Gideon. “And if she
forces me to wed with her, that’s the bride-gift she’ll get.”
“You _did_ give her foxglove tea to give Mother, then?”
“Mother told me she’d liefer be dead than quick, and she was a burden.”
He never tried to soften it nor deny it, for that wasna his way.
“Well, you be a murderer, and I’ve done with you,” I said.
“You swore to do as I said.”
“Murder cancels all vows,” I answered.
“I dunna want Tivvy here. She’s no manner use.”
“Seemingly you canna choose,” I said. “It’s Tivvy or hang, as far as I
can see. I’d save you if I could, for you be my brother, when all’s
said, and I like you right well, too. When you’ve worked along of a
person, furrow for furrow and spade for spade, as long as I’ve worked
with you, lad, you do like the person right well, unless you hate him.
And you I canna hate, though I’ve been trying to the last few minutes.
Gideon! What for did you do such a wicked thing? Indeed to goodness you
mun repent in dust and ashes, and think of nothing else at all, or the
devil’ll certainly put his mark on you, so you’ll come to no good in
this life, and go to the lowest hell in the other. Your own Mother,
Gideon!”