"I don't care if she is pretty. What's that to me? I've got you through college, Joseph; and a hard time I've had of it, a-delvin' and slavin'; and here you come, and the very first thing you do you must take and court that 'ere 'Squire Jones's daughter, who was always putting himself up above me. Besides, I mean to have the law on that estate yet; and Deacon Dudley, he will have the law, too; and it will cut off the best piece of land the girl has; and when you get married, I mean you shall _have_ something. It's jest a trick of them gals at me; but I guess I'll come up with 'em yet. I'm just a-goin' down to have a 'regular hash' with old Silence, to let her know she can't come round me that way." "Silence," said Susan, drawing her head into the window, and looking apprehensive, "there is Mr. Adams coming here." "What, Joe Adams? Well, and what if he is?" "No, no, sister, but it is his father--it is Uncle Jaw." "Well, s'pose 'tis, child--what scares you? S'pose I'm afraid of him? If he wants more than I gave him last time, I'll put it on." So saying, Miss Silence took her knitting work and marched down into the sitting room, and sat herself bolt upright in an attitude of defiance, while poor Susan, feeling her heart beat unaccountably fast, glided out of the room. "Well, good morning, Miss Silence," said Uncle Jaw, after having scraped his feet on the scraper, and scrubbed them on the mat nearly ten minutes, in silent deliberation. "Morning, sir," said Silence, abbreviating the "good." Uncle Jaw helped himself to a chair directly in front of the enemy, dropped his hat on the floor, and surveyed Miss Silence with a dogged air of satisfaction, like one who is sitting down to a regular, comfortable quarrel, and means to make the most of it. Miss Silence tossed her head disdainfully, but scorned to commence hostilities. "So, Miss Silence," said Uncle Jaw, deliberately, "you don't think you'll do any thing about that 'ere matter." "What matter?" said Silence, with an intonation resembling that of a roasted chestnut when it bursts from the fire. "I really thought, Miss Silence, in that 'ere talk I had with you about 'Squire Jones's cheatin' about that 'ere----" "Mr. Adams," said Silence, "I tell you, to begin with, I'm not a going to be sauced in this 'ere way by you. You hain't got common decency, nor common sense, nor common any thing else, to talk so to me about my father; I won't bear it, I tell you." "Why, Miss Jones," said Uncle Jaw, "how you talk! Well, to be sure, 'Squire Jones is dead and gone, and it's as well not to call it cheatin', as I was tellin' Deacon Enos when he was talking about that 'ere lot--that 'ere lot, you know, that he sold the deacon, and never let him have the deed on't." "That's a lie," said Silence, starting on her feet; "that's an up and down black lie! I tell you that, now, before you say another word."