"I am going to study law in the judge's office—Judge Bassett, you know."
"So you can keep a tongue in yo' head when those plagued cusses come 'bout the mortgage?"
"So I can take cases to court and earn a living."
"Why don't you stick to the land and make yo' bread honest?"
"The law's honest."
Turner shook his hairy head.
"It cheated me out o' twelve bushels of 'taters las' year," he said. "Don't tell me 'bout yo' law. I know it."
Nicholas laughed.
"Come to me when I've set up, if you get in trouble," he rejoined, "and I'll get you out."
The cow gave a lunge at the ropes, and the farmer went on his way. When the man and cow had passed from sight Nicholas stopped and laughed again. He wondered if he could be really of one flesh and blood with these people—of one stuff and fibre. What had he in common with his own father—hard-working, heavy-handed Amos Burr? No, he was not of them and he had never been.