“Why not? What are you afraid of?”
“Afraid! I don't know as I'm afraid of anything—that is,” with a contemptuous sniff, “nothin' I see around here.”
“Then what are YOU runnin' away for?”
This was putting the matter in a new light. Mrs. Bascom regarded her husband with wrathful amazement, which slowly changed to an amused smile.
“Oh,” she said, “if you think I'm runnin' away, why—”
“I don't see what else 'tis. If I ain't scart to have you here, I don't see why you should be scart to stay. Set down on them stairs again; I want to talk to you.”
The lady hesitated an instant and then returned to her former seat. Seth went back to his barrel.
“Emeline,” he said. “I'll stay here on my job.”
She looked surprised, but she nodded.
“I'm glad to hear it,” she said. “I'm glad you've got that much spunk.”