away with this scoundrel--of course not--but you say
she's going to leave. She'll meet him somewhere--good God! But how
should you understand? Come, let me get home!"

"I understand a sight more'n you do, and you go on so that I can't tell
you anything. If you showed sense, you'd be glad I was lookin' out for
you so I could tell you everything. What's the good of goin'
rampaigin' home when, if you'd only listen, you could get even with
that scoundrel, as yer call 'im, and make all right," and Jane began to
cry.

"Oh, thunder!" exclaimed the chafing man, "tell me your story at once,
or you'll drive me mad. You don't half know what you're talking about
or how much your words mean--how should you? The thing to do is to get
home as soon as possible."

"You aint no reason to be so mad and glum all the while," cried Jane,
smarting under a sense of injustice. "Here I'm a-tryin' to do for you,
and you'll be sorry ernuff if you don't stop and listen. And she's
been a-tryin' to do for you all along, and she's been standin' up for
you this afternoon, and is goin' to run away to save your life."

"Run away to save my life? Are you crazy?"

"No, but you be," cried the girl, excited and exasperated beyond
restraint. "If she IS your wife I'd stand up for her and take care of
her, since she stands up for you so. 'Stead of that, you go round as
glum as a thundercloud and now want to go ragin' home to her. Dunno
whether she's your wife or not, but I DO know she said she loved you
and 'ud die for you, and she wouldn't do a thing that man asked but go
away to save your life."

Holcroft looked at the girl as if dazed. "Said she LOVED me?" he
repeated slowly.

"Of course! You knowed that all 'long--anybody could see it--an' you
don't treat her much better'n you did mother." Then, with an impatient
gesture, she asked, "Will you sit down and listen?"

"No, I won't!" he cried, springing toward his horses. "I'll find out if
your words are true."

"Oh, yes!" said Jane contemptuously; "run right to her to find out
somethin' as plain as the nose on her face, and run right by the man
that was threatenin' her and you too."

Wheeling round, he asked, "Where is he?"

"I know, but I won't say 'nuther word till you stop goin' on. 'Fi's a
man I'd find out what to do 'fore I did anythin'."

Jane had little comprehension of the tempest she had raised in
Holcroft's soul or its causes, and so was in no mood to make allowances
for