Jarred nodded. “Yes, Sewall is different. If all the Waits were like Sewall there would not be any feud.”
Scott took advantage of the old man’s calm mood. “You asked me not to say anything more about dropping the feud, but I want to say something about it just once more if you will let me.”
Old Jarred’s face turned dark with sudden anger and Scott saw that he was going to be ordered out with little ceremony. But the order did not come. For a moment there was intense silence. Then the old man spoke, and his voice was quiet and rather sad.
“I know what you would say, but go ahead.”
Scott was so surprised that he could scarcely find the words now that he had the opportunity. Then he blurted out his words like a schoolboy.
“It is only this, Mr. Morgan. I could not help thinking when I found out what sort of men you two were, what a pity it was for you to hold out as a matter of pride till one of you is killed, and Mr. Wait said that he would be glad to drop the whole thing if you would. Is there no way out of it?”
Again Jarred’s face darkened but the wave of temper passed as the other had done.
“I suppose that is the way it looks to a stranger,” he said slowly. “I suppose I seem like a stubborn old fool, all pride and nothing to back it up, keeping the whole country in arms for the fun of it.”
“No, it’s not quite as bad as that,” Scott interrupted quickly.
“Maybe you would not say it in those words,” Jarred replied quietly, “but it must be about what you think. If any one else had tried to tell me what you have I would have ordered him off the place, but I like you and I am deep in your debt. I am going to tell you something that I have not mentioned before in fifteen years.” He paused as though it were a great effort to break his prolonged silence. Then he continued with enforced calm: