"O, yes, because they loved each other, and there was no one to interfere with them."
They were now startled by hearing Mr. Benson chiding the children in a loud, angry voice, with many oaths, for leaving the gate open, and letting a cow into a small yard of shrivelled, stinted looking cabbages.
The children scampered for the house, with terrified looks, whispering, "father has come," and crouching down in a heap in one corner of the room, remained very quiet; the old cow ran for the street, with Mr. Benson at her heels, storming furiously, and plying a large stick across her back, which he had picked up in his rage.
The sisters placed the large bundle of dried apple in as secure a place as possible, and returned to the kitchen.
The door was burst violently open, and Mr. Benson entered the room, exclaiming, as he did so,
"What in thunder is going on here?"
And he proceeded to disarrange chairs, tables and everything that came in his way, till the house was all in confusion. He went to the cupboard, that stood in the corner of the room, to get a large jug he used to keep brandy in, in his better days, but which now was often filled with New England rum. Not finding it, he almost screamed,
"Hannah, you Jezebel, where is my jug?"
"I thought I would sell it, as you were boarding out."
"Woman," shouted he, "that shall be a dear jug to you."