“I must,” said Harriet, sullenly, “if you don’t take your face out o’ the way.”
“You imperent slummix! An’ you will leave your mother alone?”
“Es soon es Abner kin build a house.”
“Then if you marry Abner Preep,” said Mrs. Strang, rising in all the majesty of righteous menace, “I’ll marry Deacon Hailey.”
“What!” Harriet also rose, white and scared.
“You may depend! I’m desprit! You kin try me too far. You know the wust, now. I will take my face out o’ the way, you onnatural darter! I will take it to one thet ’preciates it.”
There was a painful silence. Mrs. Strang eyed her daughter nervously. Harriet seemed dazed.
“You’d marry Ole Hey?” she breathed at last.
“You’d marry young Preep!” retorted the mother
“I’m a young gal!”