Page:Mehalah 1920.djvu/192

182 "Oh! you do take at last! That's well. I'd act on it if I was you. A man, you see, don't make no odds of taking up with a girl, and then when he's had a bit of her tongue and temper, he thinks he'd as lief be without her, and pick up another. He'd ring a whole change on the bells, he would, if it warn't for churches. That is my doctrine. Churches was built, and parsons were made, for tying up of men, and the girls are fools who let the men make up to them, and don't seize the opportunity to tie them."

"Abraham, enough of this."

"It is no odds to me. I don't care so long as I has my wittles and my wage. Only I'd rather see you mistress here than another. I'd get my wittles more regular and better, because you know me and my likings, and a new one wouldn't. That's all. Every man for himself, is my doctrine."

"I forbid this for once and all. I am servant on wage here just as you are; I am that, and I shall never be anything else."

"Oh, there you think different from most folks. You don't think according to your interests; and mistress, let me tell you, you don't talk as does the master."

He went away mumbling something about it being no concern of his, and if some people did not know how to eat their bread and butter when they had it in their hands it was no odds to him.

Mehalah was hurt and incensed. She went to her mother.

"Mother," she said, "when will you be able to move? I shall look out for a situation elsewhere."

"What, my dear child! Move from here, where I am so comfortable I You cannot. Elijah won't hear of it. He told me so. He told me you was to remain here, and I should spend the rest of my days here in quiet. It is a very pleasant place, and more in the world than was the Ray. I am better off here than I was there. Now we get everything for nothing; we don't lay out a penny, and you get wage beside."

"Mother, Abraham has been speaking to me. He has hinted, what I do not like, that I ought to marry Elijah—"