They were really very quiet for a little while. The sun was dropping
lower. It was that hour when everything stills itself, and they really
had had a busy and exciting afternoon. Colin looked as if he were
resting luxuriously. Even the creatures had ceased moving about and had
drawn together and were resting near them. Soot had perched on a low
branch and drawn up one leg and dropped the gray film drowsily over his
eyes. Mary privately thought he looked as if he might snore in a
minute.
In the midst of this stillness it was rather startling when Colin half
lifted his head and exclaimed in a loud suddenly alarmed whisper:
Who is that man?
Dickon and Mary scrambled to their feet.
Man! they both cried in low quick voices.
Colin pointed to the high wall.
Look! he whispered excitedly. Just look!
Mary and Dickon wheeled about and looked. There was Ben Weatherstaff s
indignant face glaring at them over the wall from the top of a ladder!
He actually shook his fist at Mary.
If I wasn t a bachelder, an tha was a wench o mine, he cried, I d
give thee a hidin !
He mounted another step threateningly as if it were his energetic
intention to jump down and deal with her; but as she came toward him he
evidently thought better of it and stood on the top step of his ladder
shaking his fist down at her.
I never thowt much o thee! he harangued. I couldna abide thee th
first time I set eyes on thee. A scrawny buttermilk-faced young besom,
allus askin questions an pokin tha nose where it wasna, wanted. I
never knowed how tha got so thick wi me. If it hadna been for th
robin Drat him
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