360 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



harvest, now, that's different ; if they spoil the 

 timothy or cut the alfalfa too late ! " 



"Bother your alfalfa! What do 1 care for 

 that ? Kate's coming out with the babies, and 

 I'm going to put her in full charge of the gar- 

 dens. She'll look after them, I'm sure. I'll tell 

 you another bit of news : Jim Jarvis is bound to 

 go with us, Jack says, and he has asked if we'll 

 let him." 



" How long have you had that up your sleeve, 

 young woman? I don't like it a little bit! 

 That is why you talked so like an oracle a little 

 while ago ! What does Jane say ? " 



" She doesn't say much, but I think she 

 wouldn't object." 



" Of course she can't object. You sick a big 

 brute of a man on to a little girl, and she don't 

 dare object ; but I'll feed him to the fishes if he 

 worries her." 



"To be sure you will, Mr. Ogre. Anybody 

 would be sure of that to hear you talk." 



"Don't chaff me, Polly. This is a serious 

 business. If you sell my girl, I'm going to buy 

 a new one. I'll ask Jessie Gordon to go with us 

 and, if Jack is half the man I take him to be, 

 he'll replenish our stock of girls before we get 

 back." 



" Who is match-making now ? " 



" I don't care what you call it. I shall take 

 out letters of marque and reprisal. I won't 

 raise girls to be carried off by the first privateer 



