Page:Mehalah 1920.djvu/258

248 "I stop her!" repeated Abraham. "She is my mistress, and I a servant."

"That is right," said Elijah, "if she had taken a whip and lashed your back till it was raw, you couldn't stop her. Where is she gone to?" Abraham drew up his shoulders. "That's her concern. It's no odds to me. But I tell ye what, master. Here are you feasting here, and we hadn't had nothing extra with our wittles. I ask that we may eat and drink prosperity to you both, to her and you." "You shall," said Elijah. "Stay," put in Mrs. De Witt. "What do you mean, you old barnacle, you? Let your superiors eat their fill first, and then you and the other men shall have what's over. That's fair. I shall manage for you. Go, Abraham." The supper drew to a close. Elijah drank a great deal. He was fretted, though he tried not to show it, by the absence of Glory. As more spirits were drunk and pipes were lighted in the hall, whilst the men of the farm fed in the kitchen, several of those present repeated their regret that she in whose honour they were assembled, the new mistress of the house in which they had met, had not deigned to show herself, and receive their good wishes and congratulations. Rebow gulped down the contents of glass after glass.

Mrs. De Witt had seated herself with the rest, and was doing her best to make up for lost time, with the bottle.

"Elijah!" said she, "one or other must establish the mastery, either you or Glory. I did think she were a bit shy at first to come among us; but now the night is coming on and still she is away. I don't deny that this ain't civil. But then, she has lived all her life on the Ray, and can't know the fashions of high society; and again, poor thing, it's her first experience of matrimony. She will do better next time. Let us drink!" said she, holding up her brimming glass, "to her profiting speedily by her experience, and next time we have all of us the honour of attending at her wedding, may she do us the favour to respond!" "Amen!" said the clerk, who was present.

"Go out, someone, and see if she is coming," said Rebow, his dark face burning with anger and drink. He could not,