Aunt Peggy made no reply and acted as though she heard him not; but, had any one noticed her closely, he would have seen her jaws working more energetically than ever, while her eyes took on a little sharper gleam than before.
She, too, was rapidly reaching an explosive mood, although the particular individual against whom she felt the rising anger failed to take warning.
"She's the worst hag I ever seen," muttered Jake, glancing askance at her, but still keeping a respectful distance.
The Senecas sat somewhat apart in the same lolling attitudes, and some of them looked as if they anticipated what was coming.
A minute later, Aunt Peggy finished another slice, which she asked Maggie to take.
"Thank you, auntie, we have enough," replied our heroine, Eva saying the same.
"I think I could eat a few pounds more," remarked Habakkuk, "but I would prefer to see Mr. Golcher get something. He is a good fellow, and orter been sarved first."
"If none of you want it, I'll eat it myself," observed the ancient maiden, who thereupon began disposing of it.
"That's gone about fur enough!" exclaimed Golcher, striding toward her; "some folks haven't got no gratertude, and I'll teach you—"
As he uttered this threat, or rather partly uttered it, he was at Aunt Peggy's elbow in a wrathful mood. All at once, she whirled about, and sprang at him like a tigress.