Page:Emma Speed Sampson--The shorn lamb.djvu/284

280 have raised objections, but no doubt those objections could have been overcome. But now—now that Betsy's father was preparing to do this heinous thing, Major Taylor could hardly be expected to consent to the match.

When they reached home it was easy to gather from Aunt Peachy's chuckling innuendoes what had occurred during the visit of the master of Mill House. Philip had it out with his father, plainly showing his disgust at what he was contemplating.

"You can't mean that you will take advantage of this old lease you have found to try to ruin Major Taylor! You say you can claim all the buildings on the land by law? Well, father, if such is the case, there is something mighty rotten about the law. You will lose the respect of the whole county if you keep to the letter of such a law."

"Listen ter the young marster a tryin' ter boss he pappy! Tellin' he pappy he don't know he own business!" cackled Aunt Peachy, who had slipped into the room after listening at the keyhole. She never lost an opportunity to make Rolfe Bolling think Philip was belittling him and in that way she kept ever in the father's heart a certain resentment towards his son.