“May ninth,” interrupted Cranston.
“Yes. In the afternoon he was dressed up to go visiting. Theodore sent for him to put his driving horse into the light buggy, so he could drive to Norridgewock. Jonathan didn’t like it and said if he couldn’t have Sunday afternoons, he’d find some place where he could.”
“Was that all there was to it?” Cranston asked, after waiting a moment for Mrs. Parlin to continue.
“Why, about all. It’s all too silly to repeat.”
“I’d rather judge of that,” Cranston said, more shortly perhaps than he intended.
Mrs. Parlin grew cold and distant, with that poise of the head that, to her friends, at least, told of offence taken.
“It was only irritation and he didn’t even mean that Theodore should hear him, but Theodore did and answered pretty sharply and——”
“Please, what did he say?”
“That he could go any time it suited him, and that, while he intended to give a man all the privileges he could, he intended also to have his services when he wanted them. Jonathan said if he wanted a man to work like a nigger, he’d better get one; and Theodore told him if he heard another word from him, he’d discharge him on the spot.” Mrs. Parlin had spoken formally and distantly, as if to assert the compulsion under which she complied with his demand.
“Was that the end of it?” he asked.