to interrupt eagerly.

"Who put that home over your head?" he asked, for the first time
addressing himself to the real issue of the home.

Elizabeth looked at him steadily. She was surprised to find herself
talking thus quietly, she who had been so prone to emotional hindrances.

"Since I have been in your house I have had my food and clothes. I don't
have to tell you that my mere work is worth far more than that. I have
borne you a child. Motherhood entitles me to a share in the estate, since
I have the child on my hands; besides, I could have been teaching school
these years and not only earned my living but have been free to go and
come as I have never been free here."

"That has nothing to do with it. You are married and your duty lies here
as well as your work. It's a wife I want. If you're going to be a wife, be
one; if you're going to be a boss, I want to know it, and I'll get out."

"Two things I will have my say about: I will not mortgage the half of the
land which is mine, and I will not be interfered with when I have to
correct Jack," Elizabeth said slowly. "Also when I see fit to go anywhere
I shall go hereafter. I was never allowed to go to see Aunt Susan, and she
went down to her death thinking I didn't want to come. Of course that's
different now: I do go when I want to these days, but I got my first
warning right there that I must take care of myself. You don't intend to
tell me anything about what you mean to do with me, ever, if you can help
it."

"You'll go into Colebyville and sign the papers on that land all the
same," John said doggedly.

"I will sign no papers till there is a legal division of the property,
John. I mean what I say. I'll let people talk if you crowd me before
them," the girl said decisively.

John glared at her in desperation.

"Damn it! no wonder folks talked the week we were married! I've been
humiliated ever since I brought you into this house," the man cried,
breaking into a passion again. "A pretty figure You'll cut, with this last
thing added to your reputation. Everybody knows you couldn't get along
with your father. I let you down easy with Johnson just now, in spite of
the humiliating place you put me in, but if you think I'm going to be
driven at your beck and call you're mistaken."

John stopped to give effect to his words. He was just beginning to realize
that Elizabeth was not giving up, and that it was a fight to the finish.
The feature John disliked was th