"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 woodpecker." "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. Mitchell 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 nobody to smoke it, do you?" "You may keep it; I've got another one." "But you've had that one so long, Bill." "Then it's all the sweeter." "I'm a thousand times obliged to you." "All right." He was silent for a thoughtful minute, and then he said: "The summer is about gone. It will leave on the train next Tuesday." The hired man nodded as if he understood. "And I've got to be lookin' out for somethin' to do in the winter," he said. "I don't reckon you can afford to keep me." "Yes, I want you. I expect to be busy all winter, trading around. Your wages may go on just the same." "You don't mean at eighteen dollars?" "I said just the same."