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 I 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, ’'m going to buy — 
anew one. JI’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 7 
out letters of marque and reprisal. I won’t — 
raise girls to be carried off by the first privateer — 
