“Ah, now his mind isn’t afther wandering when he do spake that way. All roight, me cherub, ye’ll stay where you be till I give you liberty to lave. Do ye mind that?”
And she shook her stubby finger in his face.
“Ah, what a tyrant you are, Aunt Maggie!”
“Phwat’s that?” she demanded, straightening up. “Are ye calling me out of me name?”
“You are the sweetest, kindest, most motherly woman and best wife in the State of Maine.”
She sprang to her feet and lumbered to the door.
“I haven’t finished hanging me duds; whin I have I’ll come back and wipe out the insoolt ye have put upon me.”
Noxon looked at Mike, who for the first time heard him laugh with real jollity in his voice.
“What a big heart! How unutterably ashamed she makes me feel! What can I weigh in the balance against her? She is pure gold and I am base dross.”
“Don’t forgit to include mesilf wid the dross, me bye. Ye won’t be able to get away from this here place for a few days, I guess.”