“'Nobody; I take the liberty. Why shouldn't I do what I please with my own prop'ty?'
“'Your own property—what do you mean? 'Ta'n't your meetin'-house.'
“'Whose is't, if 'ta'n't mine?' says Jedwort, lifting his turtle's head from between his horizontal shoulders, and grinning in the Deacon's face.
“'It belongs to the society,' says the Deacon.'
“'But the s'ciety's pulled up stakes and gone off.'
“'It belongs to individooals of the society—to individooals.'
“'Wal, I'm an individooal,' says Jedwort.
“'You! you never went to meetin' here a dozen times in your life!'
“'I never did have my share of the old meet-in'-house, that's a fact,' says Jedwort; 'but I'll make it up now.'
“'But what are ye fencin' up the common for?' says the Deacon.