"
"Never mind," authoritatively said Miss Greylston; "do just as you
are bid, without any remarks;" and she turned away, and went down
the meadow path, even as she came, within quick step, without a
bonnet, shading her eyes from the morning sun with her handkerchief.
John Greylston still sat at the breakfast-table, half dreamily
balancing the spoon across the saucer's edge. When his sister came
in again, he raised his head, and mutely-inquiringly looked at her,
and she spoke,--
"I left this room just to go after Reuben and Tom; I overtook them
before they had crossed the last meadow, and I told them not to
touch the pine trees, but to go, instead, to any other work they
choose. I am sure you will be angry with me for all this; but, John,
I cannot help it if you are."
"Don't say so, Margaret," Mr. Greylston sharply answered, getting up
at the same time from his chair, "don't tell me you could not help
it. I have talked and reasoned with you about those trees, until my
patience is completely worn out; there is no necessity for you to be
such an obstinate fool."
"Oh! John, hush, hush!"
"I will not," he thundered. "I am master here, and I will speak and
act in this house as I see fit. Now, who gave you liberty to
countermand my orders; to send my servants back from the Work I had
set for them to do? Margaret, I warn you; for, any more such freaks,
you and I, brother and sister though we be, will live no longer
under the same roof.
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