"I'm for Buch and Breck," said Billy. "Misses she give me a dollar to vote for Buchanan, I know—"
Leila delightedly encouraged him. "Did you?"
"No, it was for poll-tax. Take in those baskets at once," said Ann.
"Yes, ma'am. Bought a fishing-pole."
The confusion of mind which had made this practical use of Ann's mild political contribution was new to the Squire, and deliciously funny to Leila. Penhallow laughed outright. Rivers was silent watching Mrs. Ann.
To his surprise, she said, "You are bad—all of you. If the women could vote we would cease to have trouble. It may please you all to know that since that idiot Pole has mortgaged his farm to Swallow and bought out the butcher at the mills, he has repented of his Democratic wickedness and says, 'After all the Squire was right.'"
"And where, my dear, did you get all this gossip?" asked Penhallow.
"It is complicated; ask Pole."
"I could guess," laughed Leila.
"And I," cried the Squire.