Elizabeth was deaf.
"Winthrop has killed a rattlesnake!" exclaimed Asahel from the rock; — "Winthrop has killed a rattlesnake!"
And Winthrop came round the bushes bringing his trophy; a large snake that counted nine rattles. They all pressed round, as near as they dared, to look and admire; all but Elizabeth, who stood on her rock and did not stir.
"Where was it? where was it?" —
"When I first saw him, he was curled up on the rock very near to Miss Haye, but he slid down among the bushes before I could catch him. We must take care when we come here now, for the mate must be somewhere."
"I'll never come here again," said Miss Cadwallader. "O come! — let us go!"
"Did you move me?" said Elizabeth, with the air of a judge putting a query.
Winthrop looked up, and answered yes.
"Why didn't you ask me to move myself?"
"I would," said Winthrop calmly, — "if I could have got word to the snake to keep quiet."