. If you'll face the other way
I'll have on my clothes in a jiffy. Can't 'pear to sense things so
well, lying a-bed after daylight."

Mrs. Benton stepped outside the house and paced the beaten path with a
tread powerful enough to crush all her enemies, had they been in her
way. Swiftly, heavily, back and forth, with clinched hands and grim
lips, the woman was rather working her indignation to a higher point
than allaying it, and as the carpenter limped from his quarters he saw
this, and thought:

"She meant it. No time for fooling when she's stirred up that way. What
in the name of reason can ail her?"

After a plunge of his head in the water of the general washing-trough,
through which a fresh stream was continually piped, and a drying on the
roller towel suspended near it, his wits were clearer. Finishing his
toilet by means of his pocket-comb, he considered himself ready for
her story and for anything that it might entail.

"Well, mother?"

Aunt Sally paused and glared at him in such a vicious manner that he
felt as if he were again that little boy of hers who needed the usual
corporal punishment.

"Yes, but mother--what have _I_ done?"

"Done? Nothing! Not a man jack of you! Let that viper warm himself
at her very fireside, least to say, south porch, and not show him up
for what he was. Land! The men! I never saw one yet was worth shucks,
savin' hers and mine. If you was half the fellow your father was, John
Benton, or that noble Cass'us was--oh! if ever _I_ wanted to be a man
in my life I want to be this minute!"

The carpenter darted into his chamber and reappeared with a vial and
spoon.

"To please me, mother, 'fore you say any more, just take a spoonful of
this dandelion relish. Made it myself, you know, and warrant no alcohol
in it!"

The jester was rewarded by a boxed ear, but he had effectually arrested
his parent's wandering thoughts, and she burst forth with her news:

"That viper-lawyer-man has come to this Sobrante to accuse Cass'us
Trent of stealing! lyin! cheating! Cass'us, your best friend and mine.
Says there's a power of money missing, that was all consigned to him,
to purchase that Paraiso d'Oro for a community and never reported on!"

"What? W-h-a-t!"

John had laid his hand upon her shoulder like a vise, and she began to
whimper.

"Needn't pinch me, child. 'Twasn't I said it. You told me to find out
what he wanted here and I have. He pretends he lost his way, got off the
road h