I never let on
that I saw him, and, honest, he stayed there over two hours, watchun
everything I did. I could just feel his eyes on the back of my neck all
the time. Last Sunday he took down part of the wall, 'cause he said
he'd seen me making figures on it. Well, I was, but it was just the wash
list. All the time he says he'll kill me if I don't tell."
"Why, what do you stay with him for?" exclaimed Trina. "I'd be deathly
'fraid of a man like that; and he did take a knife to you once."
"Hoh! HE won't kill me, never fear. If he'd kill me he'd never know
where the dishes were; that's what HE thinks."
"But I can't understand, Maria; you told him about those gold dishes
yourself."
"Never, never! I never saw such a lot of crazy folks as you are."
"But you say he hits you sometimes."
"Ah!" said Maria, tossing her head scornfully, "I ain't afraid of him.
He takes his horsewhip to me now and then, but I can always manage.
I say, 'If you touch me with that, then I'll NEVER tell you.' Just
pretending, you know, and he drops it as though it was red hot. Say,
Mrs. McTeague, have you got any tea? Let's make a cup of tea over the
stove."
"No, no," cried Trina, with niggardly apprehension; "no, I haven't got a
bit of tea.
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