Page:Cornelia Meigs--The windy hill.djvu/167

Rh He looked back at the house among the trees, clenching his big hands and muttering to himself in helpless fury.

"He just stood there grinning, even guessing my thoughts, for he said, 'You could knock me down, I know, but it would be no satisfaction to you, for I would get back at you through the law. It would cost you more than it is worth, John Massey.' It was what I knew was true myself, so I kept my hands off him and came away."

Janet and Oliver stood looking at him miserably, knowing that there was nothing to be done.

"Get into the car and wait for us," Oliver directed at last. "We will take you home when we have finished here. We won't stay long."

"You won't want to," observed John Massey bitterly. "He is in a famous bad temper."

They went through the gate with Janet's steps lagging more than ever. There was something almost uncanny about a man who could cause such misery to other people and yet go unscathed himself. They saw him almost immediately as they came up the path. He had been cutting down some weeds in the neglected field and was standing in the middle of it, close beside the scarecrow. He did not move, but waited for them to come close, evidently meditating what he could say that would hurt and anger them the most. He began to speak the moment they came near, giving Oliver no opening for what he had meant to say: