Esther might have spoken, but Mr. Clark cut in ahead of her. “What!” he shouted, in a frenzy. “What’s that you’re tellin’ her, Reliance Clark? Do you mean to say you ain’t goin’ to take up with a chance like _that_? My gosh, woman, you’re crazy!” She whirled on him. “You keep still!” she commanded. “This isn’t any of your business at all. Don’t you say another word.” “But it _is_ my business. Why ain’t it my business? Didn’t he ask me same as he did the rest of you? Didn’t--” She did not let him finish. “No, he did not,” she declared, with fierce contempt. “He said he supposed he would have to take the tail with the hide, that’s what he said, and if you like bein’ called a tail, I don’t.” “Aw, come now, Reliance! He never meant--he asked me--” “He didn’t ask you; he took you same as he might take a--the scales on a codfish, because he knew he couldn’t catch the critter without ’em. It is Esther he’s after and he was shrewd enough to think that maybe she might not go unless I did. Yes, and that I couldn’t leave a helpless thing like you to float around creation with nobody to steer you. Oh, _don’t_ make me any madder than I am, Mil Clark!” “Aw, Reliance, have some sense! Why--” “Be still, Mil Clark!... Oh, when he had the impudence to tell me that he got me that post-office appointment, I--I-- Oh, that was the last straw!” She was sputtering sparks like a pinwheel. Esther tried to soothe her. “There, there, Auntie,” she protested, “you mustn’t get into such a state. I don’t care at all, really. I’m glad. I don’t want to live with him. Of course I don’t. I want to stay with you, right here in this house, just as I always have. Don’t worry about it any more--please.” The thunder cloud upon her aunt’s brow was thinning. Her comely face was still crimson, but the fire in her eyes was beginning to die. She walked over to the window, stood there for a moment, and, when she turned, there was a suspicion of a smile at the corners of her lips.