The Dead Alive

ink ill of me for following you out here? We are no

ight in America.

looking at me frankly and fearl

uess I may say to you what I couldn’t say to a stranger. I am right glad you

t you pay me, Miss Colebrook

eply; she steadily pursued

e is only thoughtless. I say, the rest of them want somebody here to make them ashamed of their hard hearts, and their horrid, false, envious ways. You are a gentleman; you know more than they know; they can’t help themselves; they must look up to you.

ression which had been produced on me at supper-time just as plainly as I have ackno

That’s the word, Mr. Lefrank — hate; bitter, bitter, bitter hate!” She clinched her little fists; she shook them vehemently, by way of adding emphasis to her last words; and then she sudd

t frankness was re

I asked, “if I guessed that you

have assumed, some little hesitation at replying to

ith the most perfect composure. “If th

I repeated. “What d

ook he

ad turn among the men here — the wicked, hard-hearted, unfeeling men. I don’t mean Ambrose, sir; I mean

ident?”

answered. “In re

the rich and respectable roof-tree of old Mr. Meadowcroft — blows and knives, not among the laborers, but

of what you sa

rose would never deceive me.

t sort of household had I rashly voyaged ac

all about it

e one thing first, sir. Promise you won’t go away and leave us when you kno

s on it. Naomi entered on her narrative the moment I had gi

to look after his farm himself, the boys (I mean Ambrose and Silas) divided the work between them. Ambrose looked after the crops, and Silas after the cattle. Things didn’t go well, somehow, under their management. I can’t tell you why. I am only sure Ambrose was not in fault. The old man got more and

o. I don’t

He’s like his sons — English, bitter English, to the marrow of his bones. Somehow, in spite of that, John Jago got round him; maybe because John does certainly know his business. Oh yes! Cattle and crops, John knows his business. Since he’s been overlooker, things have prospered as they didn’t prosper in the time of the boys. Ambrose owned as much to me himself. Still, sir, it’s hard to be set aside for a stranger; isn’t it? John gives the orders now. The boys do their work; but they have no voice in it when John and the old man put their heads together over the business of the farm. I have been long in telling you of it, sir, but now you know how the envy and the hatred grew among the men before my time. Since I have been here, things seem to get worse and worse. There’s

her lips, looked back over her

, watching us, in the shadow of the elm-tree. I rose directly to approach him.

ning sharply toward the stran

adow into the moonlight, and st

truding?” he said,

u want?” Na

ded. “When you are quite at leisure, Miss Naomi, you would be doing me

d brown eyes — wilder than ever in the moonlight — rested entreatingly, with a strange underlying expression of despair, on Naomi’s face. His han

speak to me to-night?” Naomi a

ease, at your leisure

hesi

p till to-mor

nced a step toward her; his voice faltered, and dropped timidly to a whisper. “I really have something to say to you, Miss N

my place to him. Once

you can possibly have to say to me which cannot be said before a third person. However, it wouldn’t be civil, I suppose, to say ‘No’ in my place. You know it’s my

l, miss, if you

n the

ouse either, if I

d impatiently, and appealed t

e imploringly to let

here are eyes on the watch, and ears on the watch, in the house; and there ar

e itself understood. Naomi stop

she asked, resignedly. “Wil

light. “There,” he said, “where we can see all round us, and be sure that nobody is listening. At ten o’clock.” He paused

and melted away into the shadow of the tree. The distant sound of a door closed soft

f hearing, Naomi spok

more than you do what he wants with me. I have half a mind not to keep

yourself to keep it. If you feel the slightest alarm, I will wait

saucy toss of the head, and a

rica, the women take care of themselves. He has got my promise to meet him, as you say; and I must keep my promise. Only think,” she added, speaking mo

d and severe Miss Meadowcroft a listen

s, and the soft footsteps, really an allusi

wife. No, sir; and she wouldn’t break her heart if the boys were not left a stick or a stone on the farm when the father dies. I have watched her, and I know it. Ah! I could tell you such things! But there’s no time now — it’s close on ten o’clock; we must say good-night. I am right glad I have spoken to you, sir. I say again, at parting, what I have said already: Use yo

mony in the direction of the house. A charming girl — an irresistible girl! I was nearly as bad as th

r, I stopped and looked

her? Why was he so anxious that not a word of it should be heard? Our presentiments are sometimes, in certain rare cases, the faithful prophecy of the future. A

ome of it. You