Part 19 (1/2)

Mistress Brace raised her hand as if to strike the young maiden who stood straight and quiet before her. But she did not strike her, she only exclaimed again:

”Take the money and do as you are bid!”

”I can't buy tea” said Maid Sally.

”Then begone out of my sight and out of my house, and see that you come not back!” cried the angry mistress. ”Highty, tighty! but a great time of day it is when beggars turn about and say 'I can't,' to those who have kept and fed them. Begone, I say, you malapert!”

Sally turned away without a word, but when nearly through the doorway, she looked back and said:

”I am not a beggar. I am an American girl, and mean to act like one.”

Now there is always something about the words of one who gets not in a rage, but answers coolly one who is in one, that cools down the wrathful person and sets him or her to thinking. And Mistress Brace was struck with fear. What had she dared to say? And what meant Sally to do?

But her temper was too high to put down all at once, so she replied:

”Very sure that you are an American, are you?”

Then, as if it came into her mind that she had better not have said that, and as she also already wished she had not called the maid a beggar, bidding her go away and stay, she began, with a sour kind of laugh:

”Of course, I know nought of you before you were a baby wench of four years or so, and if you are so silly set against getting the tea--”

But Sally had darted to her tiny room. She would wait to hear no more.

And thankful she was that Goodman Kellar came the next moment with eggs and b.u.t.ter for Mistress Cory Ann to chaffer or bargain about.

Mistress Brace had never been soft of speech, although she could put on the manners of a well-spoken dame, but she had of late grown more and more rough and coa.r.s.e, ordering Sally about at times in so unmannerly a way that the maid had more than once turned it over in her mind, wondering if she had any right so to order her.

And then, in truth, Sally was noticing such things more after hearing Mistress Maria Kent's nice and gentle speech than she had in the past.

And now she hastened to get away if possible before Mistress Brace and Goodman Kellar should be done parleying. All her young spirit flamed up when the mistress called her a beggar, and although something fine in her nature kept her quiet at the words, they were not to be pa.s.sed over.

She dressed herself with care, putting on a brown and scarlet linsey-woolsey gown but just made, and bought nearly all with her own money. Then she slipped out at the front door. It was her day to recite to Parson Kendall, and although she scarcely dared think it out, there was a resolve forming under the warm tints of her ruddy hair.

But here was her Fairy with something to say.

”What are you going to do, Maid Sally?”

”I know not, good Fairy, but I mean not to sleep to-night at Mistress Cory Ann's.”

”Hast any other home?”

”No, good Fairy, but mayhap I will find one.”

”Have you any fixed idea about it?”

”N-o; I have only in my mind that of which I cannot yet speak.”

”Very well, then be brave and do not falter. You have long felt ill at ease with the Tory woman; tell not too much, but speak the truth boldly.”