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rbin； who came back crippled from the war。 Yes； I remember now； there was a joke at the time about his saying that land was the cheapest present he could give。〃
〃It was all his besotted foolishness； you know to think of a sane man deeding away seventy acres right in the heart of his tract of two thousand。 He meant it for a joke； of course。 Mr。 Tucker or Colonel Corbin； if you choose； was like one of the family； but he was as sensitive as a kid about his wounds； and he wanted to live off somewhar； shut up by himself。 Well； he's got enough folks about him now； the Lord knows。 Thar's the old lady； and the two gals； and Mr。 Christopher； to say nothing of Uncle Boaz and a whole troop of worthless niggers that are eating him out of house and home。 Tom Spade has a deed of trust on the place for three hundred dollars； he told me so himself。〃
〃So I understand； and all this is a serious inconvenience to you； I may suppose。〃
〃Inconvenience！ Blood and thunder！ It takes the heart right out of my land； I tell you。 Why； the very road I cut to save myself half a mile of mudholes came to a dead stop because Mr。 Christopher wouldn't let it cross his blamed pasture。〃
Carraway thoughtfully regarded his finger nails。 〃Then； bless my soul！seeing it's your private affairwhat are you going to do about it？〃 he inquired。
〃Git it。 The devil knows howI don't； but git it I will。 I brought you down here to talk those fools over； and I mean you to do it。 It's all spite； pure； rotten spite； that's what it is。 Look here； I'll gladly give 'em three thousand dollars for that strip of land； and it wouldn't bring nine hundred； on my oath！〃
〃Have you made the offer？〃
〃Made it？ Why； if I set foot on the tip edge of that land I'd have every lean hound in the pack snapping at my heels。 As for that young rascal； he'd knock me down if I so much as scented the matter。〃
He rapped his pipe sharply on the wood of his chair and a little pile of ashes settled upon the floor。 With a laugh； the other waved his hand in protest。
〃So you prefer to make the proposition by proxy。 My dear sirI'm not a rubber ball。〃
〃Oh； he won't hurt you。 It would spoil the sport to punch anybody's head but mine； you know。 Come； now； isn't it a fair offer I'm making？〃
〃It appears so； certainlyand I really do not see why he should wish to hold the place。 It isn't worth much； I fancy； to anybody but the owner of the Hall； and with the three thousand clear he could probably get a much better one at a little distancewith the additional value of putting a few square miles between himself and youwhom； I may presume； he doesn't love。〃
〃Oh； you may presume he hates me if you'll only work it；〃 snorted Fletcher。 〃Go over thar boldlyno slinking； mind youto…morrow morning； and talk them into reason。 Lord； man； you ought to be able to do itdon't you know Greek？〃
Carraway nodded。 〃Not that it ever availed me much in an argument；〃 he confessed frankly。
〃It's a good thing to stop a mouth with； anyway。 Thar's many and many a time； I tell you； I've lost a bargain for the lack of a few rags of Latin or Greek。 Drag it in； stuff it down 'em； gag thar mouthsit's better than all the swearing under heaven。 Why； taking the Lord's name in vain ain't nothing to a line of poetry spurted of a sudden in one of them dead…and…gone languages。 It's been done at me； suh； and I know how it worksthat's why I've put the boy upstairs on 'em from the start。 'Tain't much matter whether he goes far in his own tongue or not； that's what I said； but dose him well with something his neighbours haven't learnt。〃
He rose with a lurch； laid his pipe on the mantel； and drew out his big silver watch。
〃Great Jehosaphat！ it's eleven and after；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Well； it's time for us to turn in； I reckon； and dream of breakfast。 If you'll hold the lamp while I bolt up； I'll show you to your room。〃
Carraway picked up the lamp； and； cautiously following his host into the darkened hall； waited until he had fastened the night…chains and shot the heavy bolts。
〃If you want a drink of water thar's a bucket in the porch；〃 said Fletcher； as he opened the back door and reached out into the moonlight。 〃Wait thar a second and I'll hand you the dipper。〃
He stepped out upon the porch； and a moment later Carraway heard a heavy stumble followed by a muttered oath。
〃Why； blast the varmints！ I've upset the boy's cage of white mice and they're skedaddling about my legs。 Here！ hold the lamp； will youI'm squashing a couple of 'em under each of my hands。〃
Carraway； leaning out with the lamp； which drew a brilliant circle on the porch； saw Fletcher floundering helplessly upon his hands and knees in the midst of the fleeing family of mice。
〃They're a plagued mess of beasts； that's what they are；〃 he exclaimed； 〃but the little lad sets a heap of store by 'em； and when he comes down tomorrow he'll find that I got some of 'em back； anyway。〃
He fastened the cage and placed it carefully beneath the bench。 Then； closing and bolting the door； he took the lamp from Carraway and motioned him up the dusky staircase to the spare chamber at the top。
CHAPTER V。 The Wreck of the Blakes
When Christopher left Blake Hall； he swung vigorously in the twilight across the newly ploughed fields； until； at the end of a few minutes' walk； he reached the sunken road that branched off by the abandoned ice…pond。 Here the bullfrogs were still croaking hoarsely； and far away over the gray…green rushes a dim moon was mounting the steep slope of bluish sky。
The air was fresh with the scent of the upturned earth； and the closing day refined into a tranquil beauty； but the young man； as he passed briskly； did not so much as draw a lengthened breath； and when presently the cry of a whip…poor…will floated from the old rail fence； he fell into a whistling mockery of the plaintive notes。 The dogs at his heels started a rabbit once from the close cover of the underbrush； and he called them to order in a sharp； peremptory tone。 Not until he reached the long； whitewashed gate opening before the frame house of the former overseers did he break the easy swing of his accustomed stride。
The house； a common country dwelling of the sort used by the poorer class of farmers； lost something of its angularity beneath the moonlight； and even the half…dried garments； spread after the day's washing on the bent old rose…bushes； shone in soft white patches amid the grass； which looked thick and fine under the heavy dew。 In one corner of the yard there was a spreading peach…tree； on which the shriveled little peaches ripened out of season； and against the narrow porch sprawled a gray and crippled aspen； where a flock of turkeys had settled to roost along its twisted boughs。
In one of the lower rooms a lamp was burning； and as Christopher crunched heavily along the pebbled path； a woman with a piece of sewing in her hand came into the hall and spoke his name。
〃Christopher； you are late。〃
Her voice was deep and musical； with a richness of volume which raised deluding hopes of an impassioned beauty in the speakerwho； as she crossed the illumined square of the window…frame； showed as a tall； thin woman of forty years； with squinting eyes； and a fa