“Hello!” she hailed, as if uncertain of her welcome.
Mackenzie requested her to come on, lighting the lantern which he had ready to hand. Mrs. Carlson hesitated, drawing back a little when she saw his face.
“I thought it was Earl,” she said.
“Earl’s not here tonight. Sit down and rest yourself, Mrs. Carlson. You don’t remember me?”
“I remember. You are the man who cut my chain.”
“I thought you’d forgotten me.”
“No, I do not forget so soon. A long time I wanted to kill you for the blow you gave Swan that night.”
“As long as Swan was good to you,” said he, “of course you would. How do you feel about it now?”
“I only cry now because he did not die. He was different a little while after he got well, but again he 184 forgets. He beats me; he leaves me alone with the sheep.”
“I knew he was beating you again,” Mackenzie nodded, confirming his speculation of a little while before.