“He is so,” retorted Harriet.
“Then,” said Matt, with ominous calm—”then you won’t hev me here, thet’s all.”
“Of course we won’t,” said Harriet, with a pleasant laugh. “You’ll live with mother.”
“With mother?” repeated Matt, staring.
“Yes; down to Deacon Hailey’s.”
“Hes mother gone to live to Deacon Hailey’s?” he asked, excitedly.
“You bet!” put in Abner, grinning genially.
“What—altogether?” exclaimed Matt. The world seemed going round as it did in the geography books.
“I guess so.”
“I won’t hev it!” cried Matt, agitatedly. “I won’t hev her slavin’ like a nigger. It was bad enough afore, when she hed to go there every day. But now she’s naught but a servant. It’s a shame, I do declare. An’ you, Harriet!” he said, turning fiercely on her again; “ain’t you ’shamed o’ yourself, drivin’ mother out of house and home?”