ARTHUR
92

"You are angry, Mr. Hadwin, and threaten vehemently; but they do not frighten me. They don't cause fear or alarm, because I know I can assure you that I'm not hurting you. This is the inn, and I am your guest. I'm sure I'll find better entertainment than a punch. Come on," I continued, smiling, "maybe I'm not so naughty as you describe. I have no claim on your niece but friendship, and she is now in the house of an honest man, Mr. Curling, where he proposes to continue as long as it is comfortable.

"It is true that your brother left the will, which his daughter burned before me, because she feared the authority that would be given to you, not only on her property, but on her people as well. It is true that when he left home he took the money that is now his, and that is necessary for the livelihood. It is true that I accompanied him, and had left him in the storage of an honest man. I'm not responsible for anything anymore. As for you, I do not intend to injure you; I do not recommend burning a will. I'm a stranger, until after that event, to your character. I don't know good or bad about you. I've come to tell you all this, because, as Eliza's uncle, you have the right to information

"So! You came to tell me that he burned the will, and will manage for what, I beg you? To his father's property? Ay, I guarantee you. But take this with you: the property belongs to me; the land, the house, the stock, everything . Everything is safe and comfortable under mortgage protection, where Billy is kind enough to add a bond. One was sued, and the other came in , a week ago. So everything's fine.it's safe under my thumb, and the girl may be whistling or starving for me. I wouldn't mind myself about the trumpet. You were thinking of getting a gift; but, damn, you have met your partner in me. Phil Haddin wasn't so easy to pick, I promise you. I meant to give you this news, and an offer to bargain; but you may go, and hurry. He burned the will, huh, because I mentioned it in it, and sent you to tell me so? A good soul! That's your kind, and I'm bound to thank you. Bring him back the mortgage news, and, for you, leave my house. You can go unpunished this time; but I promise you my words for sound beating when you next enter these doors. I'll pay it to you with interest. Leave my house, I said!"

"A mortgage," I said, in a low voice, and influenced not to hear his orders; "That would be sad news for my friend. Why, Master, you are a lucky man. Malverton is a very nice place; watered and well-fertilized; new and fully fenced; not a bigger barn in the county; cattle and horses and cows in the best order; I have never seen a better garden. For the sake of my faith, Master, you are a lucky person. But, pray, what do you have for dinner? I am hungry like a wolf. Order me a beef steak, and some potion or other. Bottle over there, it's apple cider, I take it; pray it, push it to this side." Saying this, I extended my hand towards the bottle standing in front of him.

I told her the power of fearless and calm ways. I think that, since anger is the food of anger, it will surely subside in a contest with equality. This opinion is intuitive, not a product of experience, and perhaps I do not give any evidence of my intelligence in risking my salvation to its truth. Hadwin's character made him feared and obeyed by everyone. He had gotten used to the ready and trembling submission of a man who was much more muscular and powerful than me, and to find his most violent threats and movements was completely ineffective on a creature so slender and small as to trigger his anger and arouse his astonishment. One movement neutralizes and suspends the other. He raised his hand, but delayed to attack. One punch, applied with his usual dexterity, was enough to crush me. Although it seemed careless, I was wary of his movements, and prepared to dodge the blow by shrinking or bending over. Meanwhile, I reached out my hand far enough to take the bottle, and, pouring its contents into the glass, put it on my lips:

"Come, Sir, I'm drinking your health, and hope you soon have Malverton . I have an interest in Eliza, and will make her win to withstand all opposition and grievances. Why should he complain? As long as I live, he will not be a beggar. No doubt your claim is legitimate, and therefore must be acknowledged. What the law gives, the law has taken away. Blessed are the lawgivers! What a cider! open another bottle, will you, and, please, hurry up for dinner, if you won't see me gobbling up the table."

"What!" he exclaimed, in overflowing anger, "didn't I be my own master? Out, I said!"

These are harsh terms, but they are not accompanied by movements and tones that are as threatening as they have ever been used before. It was clear that the tide, which had recently threatened my destruction, was beginning to recede. It pushes me to stay.

"Don't worry, my good friend," I said calmly and smiled. "Someone who doesn't need to be afraid of a pig like me. I will hardly be able to depose you in your own palace, with an army of eateries, eavesdroppers, and cooks ready to help you. You'll still be the master here, as long as you use your influence to buy me dinner."

His approval in the pacific system was very reluctant and gradual. He put aside one tone of frown and a gaze full of fury; and, finally, agreed not only to feed me dinner, but also to partake with me. Nothing surprises him more than his patience. He doesn't know how he is. He's never been treated like that before. He is not proof of supplication and submission; but I have never pleaded or bowed. The items made from me at once were very hard and very pliable. When she thought about my sassness, staying at her house after she told me to leave, she was tempted to continue her passion. When he contemplated my courage, in defusing his anger, despite his known rashness and my personal inferiority, he could not help his pride. But my patience under his rebuke, my unalterable equanimity, and my ready consent for the validity of his claim, placate and reconcile him.