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with his lady passengers；〃 snapped Mrs。 Todd； 〃'specially as they
always ride inside。〃
〃I know they gen'ally do；〃 said Pel； shouldering the axe
（it was for his mother's use）； but this one rides up in front part o'
the way； so I thought mebbe Jerry 'd find out something 'bout her。
She's han'some as a picture； but she must have a good strong back
to make the trip down 'n' up in one day。〃
Nothing could have been more effective or more
effectual than this blow dealt with consummate skill。
Having thus driven the iron into Mrs。 Todd's soul；
Pel entertained his mother with an account of the interview
while she chopped the kindling…wood。 He had no special end
in view when； Iago…like； he dropped his first poisoned seed
in Mrs。 Todd's fertile mind； or； at most； nothing worse
than the hope that matters might reach an unendurable point；
and Jerry might strike for his altars and his fires。
Jerry was a man and a brother； and petticoat government must
be discouraged whenever and wherever possible； or the world would
soon cease to be a safe place to live in。 Pel's idea grew upon
him in the night watches； and the next morning he searched his
mother's garret till he found a green dress and a white bonnet。
Putting them in a basket； he walked out on the road a little
distance till he met the stage； when； finding no passengers inside；
he asked Jerry to let him jump in and 〃ride a piece。〃
Once within； he hastily donned the green wrapper and tell…tale
headgear； and； when the Midnight Cry rattled down the stony hill
past the Todd house； Pel took good care to expose a large green
sleeve and the side of a white bonnet at the stage window。
It was easy enough to cram the things back into the basket；
jump out； and call a cordial thank you to the unsuspecting Jerry。
He was rewarded for his ingenuity and enterprise at night；
when he returned Mrs。 Todd's axe； for just as he reached
the back door he distinctly heard her say that if she saw
that green woman on the stage again； she would knock her off
with a broomstick as sure as she was a Stover of Scarboro。
As a matter of fact she was equal to it。 Her great…grandmother
had been born on a soil where the broomstick is a prominent
factor in settling connubial differences； and if it occurred
to her at this juncture； it is a satisfactory proof of the
theory of atavism。
Pel intended to see this domestic tragedy through to the end；
and accordingly took another brief trip in costume the very next week；
hoping to be the witness of a scene of blood and carnage。
But Mrs。 Todd did not stir from her house； although he was confident
she had seen 〃my lady green…sleeves〃 from her post at the window。
Puzzled by her apathy； and much disappointed in her temper；
he took off the dress； and； climbing up in front； rode to Moderation；
where he received an urgent invitation to go over to the county fair
at Gorham。 The last idea was always the most captivating to Pel；
and he departed serenely for a stay of several days without
so much luggage as a hairbrush。 His mother's best clothespin basket；
to say nothing of its contents； appeared at this juncture to be
an unexpected incumbrance； so on the spur of the moment he handed
it up to Jerry just as the stage was starting； saying； 〃If Mis'
Todd has a brash to…night； you can clear yourself by showing
her this basket； but for massy sakes don't lay it on to me！
You can stan' it better'n I can；you 're more used to it！〃
Jerry took the basket； and when he was well out on the road
he looked inside and saw a bright green calico wrapper； a white
cape bonnet； a white 〃fall veil；〃 and a pair of white cotton gloves。
He had ample time for reflection； for it was a hot day；
and though he drove slowly； the horses were sweating at every pore。
Pel Frost； then； must have overheard his wife's storm of reproaches；
perhaps even her threats of violence。 It had come to this；
that he was the village laughing…stock； a butt of ridicule at
the store and tavern。
Now； two years before this； Jerry Todd had for the first
and only time in his married life 〃put his foot down。〃
Mrs。 Todd had insisted on making him a suit of clothes
much against his wishes。 When finished she put them
on him almost by main force； though his plaintive appeals
would have melted any but a Stover…of…Scarboro heart。
The stuff was a large plaid； the elbows and knees came
in the wrong places； the seat was lined with enameled cloth；
and the sleeves cut him in the armholes。
Mr。 Todd said nothing for a moment； but the pent…up
slavery of years stirred in him； and； mounting to his brain；
gave him a momentary courage that resembled intoxication。
He retired； took off the suit； hung it over his arm； and； stalking
into the sitting…room in his undergarments； laid it on the table
before his astonished spouse； and； thumping it dramatically；
said firmly； 〃Iwillnotwearthemclo'es！〃 whereupon
he fell into silence again and went to bed。
The joke of the matter was； that； all unknown to himself；
he had absolutely frightened Mrs。 Todd。 If only he could have realized
the impressiveness and the thorough success of his first rebellion！
But if he had realized it he could not have repeated it often；
for so much virtue went out of him on that occasion that he felt
hardly able to drive the stage for days afterward。
〃I shall have to put down my foot agin；〃 he said to himself
on the eventful morning when Pel presented him with the basket。
〃Dern my luck； I've got to do it agin； when I ain't hardly got
over the other time。〃 So； after an hour's plotting and planning；
he made some purchases in Biddeford and started on his return trip。
He was very low in his mind； thinking； if his wife really meditated
upon warfare； she was likely to inspect the stage that night；
but giving her credit in his inmost heart for too much common sense
to use a broomstick；a woman with her tongue！
The Midnight Cry rattled on lumberingly。 Its route had been shortened；
and Mrs。 Todd wanted its name changed to something less outlandish；
such as the Rising Sun； or the Breaking Dawn； or the High Noon；
but her idea met with no votaries； it had been； was； and ever should be；
the Midnight Cry； no matter what time it set out or got back。
It had seen its best days； Jerry thought； and so had he； for that matter。
Yet he had been called 〃a likely feller〃 when he married the Widder Bixby；
or rather when she married him。 Well； the mischief was done；
all that remained was to save a remnant of his self…respect；
and make an occasional dash for liberty。
He did all his errands with his usual care； dropping a blue
ribbon for Doxy Morton's Sunday hat； four cents' worth of
gum…camphor for Almira Berry； a spool of cotton for Mrs。 Wentworth；
and a pair of 〃galluses〃 for Living Bean。 He finally turned into
the 〃back…nippin'〃 road from Bonny Eagle to Limington； and when he was
within forty rods of his own house he stopped to water his horses。
If he