Part 25 (2/2)
”Yes, and it will do you.”
”I know it, and that's the reason I want to marry out of it.”
”That is to say, you want to 'do' a woman to get out of it yourself.
What do you expect to give her?”
”Why, I'll give her a good husband, a man that'll fight for her, do anything----”
”Except to work for her,” Milford broke in. The hired man grinned. ”He said that a good husband was about all that a woman ought to expect, these days; he would not fall short, and a man who did not disappoint a good woman came very near to the keeping of all commandments. He was not going to marry for property. But if property made a woman beautiful to the rich, why should it make her ugly to the poor?”
”But you say she is homely and freckled.”
”I said freckled, Bill; I didn't say homely. Why, I like freckles. I think they are the puttiest things in the world. They catch me every time. A trout wouldn't be half as putty if he wan't speckled. And if this woman is a trout and has snapped at my fly, all right. The world ain't got a right to say a word.”
”The world doesn't know that you are born or ever will be.”
”Oh, I know you don't think I amount to much, Bill; I know the world don't care for me, but I'll make her care one of these days.”
”When the worm turns on the woodp.e.c.k.e.r.”
”That's all right, Bill. Have all the flings you want. But I'll tell you one thing: I don't talk about the Bible bein' the greatest book in the world, and then go in the woods and lay for a feller to mash his mouth.
Oh, I know all about it. My girl's brother see the feller git on the train with his jaw tied up, and I knowed what had happened.”
”You say the fellow's mouth was mashed?” said Milford.
”Yes, mashed as flat as a pancake.”
”Then you want to keep your mouth shut.”
”All right, Bill, I understand.”
Milford walked about the room. ”We are neglecting everything,” he said.
”It's time to feed the cattle.” They went out to the barn, neither of them speaking. Mitch.e.l.l climbed into the loft and tossed down the hay; Milford measured out oats to the horses. In silence they returned to the house.
”Why don't you say something?” said Milford.
”When I said the feller's mouth was mashed you said I wanted to keep mine shut. I help you learn how to box till you could out-box me, and I guess you can mash my mouth easy enough, Bill.”
”But do you think I would, Bob?”
”No, I can't hardly think so. Got any smokin' tobacco?”
”Fresh bag up there on the shelf. Fill up that briar of mine--the old-timer.”
”But you don't want n.o.body to smoke it, do you?”
”You may keep it; I've got another one.”
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