nd
you can pretend to believe him. That'll be the easiest way, I guess. Of
course," she added, "I ain't tellin' you what to do with any idea that
you'll do it because I say so. The time for that is all past and gone.
But it seems to me that, for once in my life, I'd be man enough to stick
it out. I wouldn't run away again."

Seth did not answer. He scowled and stared at the circle of lantern
light on the stone floor. Mrs. Bascom rose from her seat on the stairs.

"Well," she observed, "I must be gettin' back to the house if I want to
get any sleep to-night. I doubt if I get much, for a body don't get over
a shock, such as I've had, in a minute. But I'm goin' to get over it
and I'm goin' to stay right here and do my work; I'm goin' to go through
with what seems to be my duty, no matter how hard it is. I've done it
afore, and I'll do it again. I've promised, and I keep my promises. Good
night."

She started toward the door. Her husband sprang from the oil barrel.

"Hold on," he cried; "you wait a minute. I've got somethin' to say."

She shook her head. "I can't wait," she said; "I've got to go."

"No, you ain't, neither. You can stay a spell longer, if you want to."

"Perhaps, but I don't want to."

"Why not? What are you afraid of?"

"Afraid! I don't know as I'm afraid of anything--that is," with a
contemptuous sniff, "nothin' I see around here."

"Then what are YOU runnin' away for?"

This was putting the matter in a new light. Mrs. Bascom regarded her
husband with wrathful amazement, which slowly changed to an amused
smile.

"Oh," she said, "if you think I'm runnin' away, why--"

"I don't see what else 'tis. If I ain't scart to have you here, I don't
see why you should be scart to stay. Set down on them stairs again; I
want to talk to you."

The lady hesitated an instant and then returned to her former seat. Seth
went back to his barrel.

"Emeline," he said. "I'll stay here on my job."

She looked surprised, but she nodded.

"I'm glad to hear it," she said. "I'm glad you've got that much spunk."

"Yup; well, I have. I came down here to get clear of everybody, women
most of all. Now the one woman that--that--"

"That you 'specially wanted to get clear of--"

"No! No! that ain't the truth, and you know it. She set out to get clear
of me--and I let her have her way, same as I done in everything else."

"She didn't set out to get clear of you."

"She did."

"No, she didn't."

"I say she did."