"If you won't let me speak as I like, Pappy Lon, then I'll keep still."
The girl faced him with brave unconcern, with such reckless defiance that Lon drew down his already darkened brow.
"Yer gettin' sassy!" Lem grunted, with his mouth full of food.
Cronk held his peace. He peered at her covertly, as if he would discover what had so changed her since the night before. Her dignity, the haughty poise of her head as she looked straight at him, filled him with something like dismay. Would Lem be able to subdue her with brute force? The scowman also observed her stealthily, compared her to Scraggy, and wondered. They both waited for Fledra to continue; but during the rest of the meal she did not speak again.
Miss Shellington was deeply surprised when the deputy met her with an open letter in his hand, and said:
"The court has called me away, Ma'm. I guess your troubles are all over."
For a moment Ann did not comprehend the meaning of his words. Then she laid a trembling hand on his arm and faltered:
"Possibly they'll send someone else; but I'd much rather you'd stay. We are—we are used to you."
"Thanks, Ma'm; but no one else won't come—the case has been called off."