at it was a fight in the open. Well, let
her fight in the open, she should see that he would not be beaten.

Elizabeth, to be less conscious of the eyes glaring at her, picked up her
sewing, which had been tossed on the lounge an hour ago, and began to ply
her needle.

John broke out anew, really losing control of himself this time.

"It's the most outrageous thing I ever heard of--a woman humiliating her
husband by refusing to sign papers when he has brought the man right into
the house to fix them up! A pretty reputation I'll get out of it! It's
sickening, disgusting. What do you expect me to do? Tell me that. If I
want to buy a load of hay or a boar pig, am I to say to a man, 'Wait till
I ask my wife if I can?'"

He stood leering at her, hot with passion, determined to make her speak.
The vulgarity of his discussion nauseated her, but since she must discuss,
she was resolved to do it quietly and on decent ground as far as she was
concerned. Without fear she replied slowly:

"You know perfectly well what I have asked of you, John. You won't gain
anything by blustering. I mean to be consulted on all important matters
like loans, deeds, and mortgages, exactly as you'd consult with a man, and
I intend to be consulted _before_ the thing is done, and not have you take
advantage of me in the presence of strangers. You needn't shuffle matters.
You understand what I mean, and you can't fool me. Be sensible and do the
right thing by me, and give me the chance to do the right thing by you."

"I've done the right thing by you already, and I'll go about my own
affairs as a man should, and You'll attend to your own affairs as a woman
should if you live with me, and leave me free to act like a man. Do you
understand that?" he demanded.

"I'm sorry, John," she said, falling back to the needle, which she had let
rest again for a moment. There was a little choke in her voice, but she
was firm.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, suspicious that she was not giving
up as he intended that she should do.

"I mean just what I said a minute ago: I will let you mortgage your half
of this farm after it is divided, but I will not sign any such papers on
the other half. I will not be taken advantage of before strangers; I will
let them talk first, and I will take care of my house as I see fit. Also,
I will not speak when you manage Jack, and you will not interfere when I
have to do it--that is, we will not interfere with each other