Part 52 (1/2)
”It's nice to have confidence in people, don't you think so?” she questioned, demurely.
”It is, Miss; it's a terrible comfort.”
”Some people repeat everything they hear. But you and I can trust each other, eh, Micah?”
”I could trust you with uncounted gold, Miss,” and Micah stuck his fork into the ground, with an energy that was meant to give emphasis to his a.s.sertion.
For awhile they talked about St. Gaved folks in general, but gradually Madeline led the conversation round to Rufus Sterne and the quarrel outside the Lodge gates.
”Mr. Sterne was not drunk, of course!” Madeline suggested, innocently.
”Well, no, I shouldn't say as how he was, though he might have been.”
”Exactly. Now, between ourselves, Micah, how did the quarrel begin?”
”Well, Miss, just between you and me, it was this way,” and Micah raised his head and looked cautiously around him.
”There's no one to hear what you are saying,” Madeline said, encouragingly.
”One can never be too careful, Miss; but as I was saying, I went out to close the gate after the Captin, and he hadn't gone many yards, before I heard 'im shout out to somebody.”
”Yes? What did he say?”
”Well. I don't remember his words exact. But there's no doubt he meant you, Miss.”
”Me, Micah?”
Micah nodded and smiled. ”I should have felt just the same, Miss.”
”I'm sure you would, Micah.”
”'You scoundrel,'” he said, ”or words like 'em. 'You're loiterin' round here again to waylay her an' poison her mind.'”
”And what did the other say?”
”Oh! he up and says it was a lie right out to 'is face.”
”Did he, really?”
”It's gospel truth, Miss; and of course the Captin, bein' insulted like that, let fly at 'im.”
”Do you wonder, Micah?”
”I don't, Miss. But lor', that young Sterne is a terrible strong and 'andsome young fellow, and he gived the Captin beans in two seconds.”
”What a shame!”
”Of course, Miss, it's natural that you and me should side with the Captin; but after all, it's human natur' to hit back again, ain't it?”
”Yes, I suppose it is. But what happened after that?”