Robert Coverdale was shocked to hear his friend so abused and he said boldly:
“Mrs. Scott, I don’t know who murdered my poor uncle, but I know the hermit did not. He has been a good friend to me, and he is no murderer.”
“Go home and go to bed, boy!” said Mrs. Scott violently. “You take that man’s part against your poor uncle.”
Robert was provoked and answered with energy:
“I would sooner suspect you than him. I never heard the hermit say a word against my uncle, while only yesterday you called him a drunken vagabond.”
This so turned the tables on Mrs. Scott that she was unable to return to the attack.
“Well, if I ever!” she ejaculated. “Tom Scott, are you goin’ to see your wife sassed by a boy?”
“It seems to me, wife, that the boy is in the right in this instance,” answered Tom, who had a sense of justice.
“So you turn against your lawful wife, do you?” exclaimed Mrs. Scott violently. “I’ll come up with you yet. See if I don’t.”
Tom Scott shrugged his shoulders with resignation.