Wait till she comes home, and see; she can't
be long. Will that content you?'
'Mind!' exclaimed the old man. 'Not a hair of her head! not a hair of
her head ill-used! I won't bear it. I--I--have borne it too long Jonas.
I am silent, but I--I--I can speak. I--I--I can speak--' he stammered,
as he crept back to his chair, and turned a threatening, though a
feeble, look upon him.
'You can speak, can you!' thought Jonas. 'So, so, we'll stop your
speaking. It's well I knew of this in good time. Prevention is better
than cure.'
He had made a poor show of playing the bully and evincing a desire to
conciliate at the same time, but was so afraid of the old man that
great drops had started out upon his brow; and they stood there yet. His
unusual tone of voice and agitated manner had sufficiently expressed his
fear; but his face would have done so now, without that aid, as he again
walked to and fro, glancing at him by the candelight.
He stopped at the window to think. An opposite shop was lighted up; and
the tradesman and a customer were reading some printed bill together
across the counter.
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