Something else had happened while we were gone, that, for very shame, the girl had not written to her uncle, and now I will tell it in Topsy's words:
"After Chet cut my mouth so badly, he seemed to hate me worse than ever, and rarely spoke in other than a savage tone of voice.
"Once, or rather, a good many times, he spoke of selling me; said he would sure, but 'the old fool' raised nice colts.
"Dear me, it almost kills me to think of his handling my pretty, tender babies. He has always been so unfeeling; keeping them from me long hours at a time, when I knew they were suffering from hunger, and then letting them nurse while I was overheated.
"But after Dr. Dick went away there there seemed nothing to check his fits of fury. He don't mind in the least what his father says, and several times boxed Bobby's ears when she interfered. Of course, it makes the trouble between him and Mrs. Wallace worse for him to misuse the girl, though she has never seemed to care much for her herself. It is all 'Tommy' with her.
"Well, Chet drove me hard, worked me hard and beat me hard, but I tried to be obedient and do my duty, until one day my colt, which he had tied to my side as Jean and I plowed, got so tired and hungry it could hardly go another step. Indeed, it was fairly dragging along by the strap. He was in a great hurry to get the piece done, as he was going to see his girl; so would not stop, but kept striking the colt. I endured it just as long as I could, then stopped in the furrow.
"Poor baby made a feeble lunge for her dinner, but, with a stinging blow, Chet bade me go on. I had made up my mind that that colt should have a minute or two of rest and a few drops of milk if he killed me for it. When I stood still he dropped the plow-handle and lines, and, coming around in front of me, cut me full in the face with that whip lash until the blood flew. I tried to shut my eyes and turn my face away, but it was no use, the blows continued until, in my agony, I opened an eye, and the knot on the end of the lash cut right into it. After that I was so frenzied I remember nothing distinctly, but Jean says he cut away until Paddy, who was working in the next field, rushed over and pulled him away by main force. The colt was so badly choked in the row that it died before morning, and I tell you I am glad of it. I never want anything to suffer as I have suffered, and bad masters are to good ones as fifty to one.
"So, as you see, I am blind of an eye. It makes it hard for me, but, if I can keep the other one, I won't fret."
Bobby had grown a willful girl, though still as sweet and tender-hearted as when a baby. She was the idol of her father and uncle, but had no training. As intimated before, she had never been a favorite with her mother, and I think she secretly realized and resented it.