Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/279

Rh "’Tain't nobody but ol' Mam' Peachy," he said apologetically. "You kin go on talkin' jes' the same befo' Mam' Peachy."

For a moment the old woman straightened up her bent back and stood before Major Taylor with an air of defiance. There was for a flash something almost queenly in her bearing, but she could hold the position for only a moment, and then sank back into the crooked state that her great age entailed on her. "Yi! Yi! Nobody but ol' Mam' Peachy; but me'n my baby air o' one min' consarnin' all the Mill folks! You kin tell that thar big yaller-haided son er yo's that 'tain't no use'n him a makin' eyes at our Betsy. We ain't a gonter put up with no foolishness with us's young lady. She air too good fer the likes er him, but we knows moughty well that Taylor men air allus a seekin' something higher'n what they is, an' Taylors air got a way er lookin' down on Bollin's." Major Taylor ignored the old woman's tirade, but he felt the blood boiling in his veins and was conscious that his face was red and the hand that held his hat trembled a little.

"I asked you, Mr. Bolling to discuss with me the selling for the second time the hub factory site."