Lord knows I had the will to
hide it!"
The wife, who had sunk into the nearest chair, and lay there huddled
like a half-empty bag, answered with a whimper.
"Stop that whining!" roared William, turning upon her, "or I'll break
every bone in your skin."
"Fie on you, man! Why, she tells me you haven't struck her for a whole
year," put in 'Lizabeth, immeasurably scornful.
"So, cousin, you've found out what I meant by 'we.' Lord! you fancied
_you_ was the one as was goin' to settle down wi' me an' be comfortable,
eh? You're jilted, my girl, an' this is how you vent your jealousy.
You played your hand well; you've turned us out. It's a pity--eh?--you
didn't score this last trick."
"What do you mean?" The innuendo at the end diverted her wrath at the
man's hateful coarseness.
"Mean? Oh, o' course, you're innocent as a lamb! Mean? Why, look
here."
He opened the chest again, and, drawing out a scrap of folded foolscap,
began to read :--
"_I, Ebenezer Transom, of Compton Burrows, in the parish of
Compton, yeoman, being of sound wit and health, and willing, though
a sinner, to give my account to God, do hereby make my last will and
testament_."
"_My house, lands, and farm of Compton Burrows, together with every
stick that I own, I hereby (for her good care of me) give and
bequeath to Elizabeth Rundle, my dead sister's child_"
--"Let be, I tell you!"
But 'Lizabeth had snatched the paper from him.
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