“That? I’d forgotten all about it. You’ve taken your time in obeying me.”
“This marnin’, an’ not sooner, I heard what you telled her when you catched Phoebe alone.”
“Ah! now I understand the delay. Say what you’ve got to say, please, and then get out of my sight.”
“’T is for you to speak, not me. What be you gwaine to do, an’ when be you gwaine to do it? I allow you’ve bested me, God knaws how; but you’ve got me down. So the sooner you say what your next step is, the better.”
The older man laughed.
“’T isn’t the beaten party makes the terms as a rule.”
“I want no terms; I wouldn’t make terms with you for a sure plaace in heaven. Tell me what you be gwaine to do against me. I’ve a right to knaw.”
“I can’t tell you.”
“You mean as you won’t tell me?”
“I mean I can’t—not yet. After speaking to your wife I forgot all about it. It doesn’t interest me.”