“Yes.”
“And you wouldn't?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don't care to accept favors from a man who oppresses all my friends!”
“He was good to take in Maria,” said Abby, in a perplexed voice. “His uncle would never have thought of it.”
Ellen made no reply. She stood still in the drifting snow, with her mouth shut hard.
“You feel as if this cutting wages was a pretty hard thing?” said Abby.
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, so do I. I wonder what they will do about it. I don't know how the men feel. Somehow, folks can't seem to think or plan much in a storm like this. There's the sleigh coming back.”