Mehetabel's nature was vigorous and elastic with youth. She recovered rapidly, more so, indeed than Mrs. Chivers would allow to James Colpus, as she was alarmed at the prospect of having to break to her that a warrant was issued against her on the charge of murder.
When she did inform her, Mehetabel could not believe what she was told.
"That is purely," she said. "I kill Jonas! If he had touched me and tried to take baby away I might have done it. I would have fought him like a tiger, as I did before."
"When did you fight him?"
"In the Moor, by Thor's Stone, over the gun—there when the shot went off into his arm."
"I never knew much of that, though there was at the time some talk."
"Yes. I need say nothing of that now. But as to hurting Jonas, I never hurted nobody in my life save myself, and that was when I married him. I don't believe I could kill a fly—and then only if it were teasin' baby."
"There is Joe Filmer downstairs, has somethin' to say. Can he come up?"
"Yes," answered Mehetabel. "He was always kind to me."
The ostler of the Ship stumbled up the stairs and saluted the sick girl with cordiality and respect.