"An' Man the Oppressor sets an' gloats over you, same as he's settin'
now. Hain't that been your experience, madam?"

This last remark was addressed to Tedda; and any one could see with
half an eye that poor, old anxious, fidgety Tedda, stamping at the
flies, must have left a wild and tumultuous youth behind her.

"'Pends on the man," she answered, shifting from one foot to the
other, and addressing herself to the home horses. "They abused me
dreffle when I was young. I guess I was sperrity an' nervous some,
but they didn't allow for that. 'Twas in Monroe County, Noo York,
an' sence then till I come here, I've run away with more men than
'u'd fill a boardin'-house. Why, the man that sold me here he says
to the boss, s' he: 'Mind, now, I've warned you. 'Twon't be none
of my fault if she sheds you daown the road. Don't you drive her
in a top-buggy, ner 'thout winkers,' s' he, 'ner 'thought this bit
ef you look to come home behind her.' 'N' the fust thing the boss
did was to git the top-buggy.

"Can't say as I like top-buggies," said Rick; "they don't balance
good."

"Suit me to a ha'ar," said Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. "Top-buggy
means the baby's in behind, an' I kin stop while she gathers the
pretty flowers - yes, an' pick a maouthful, too. The women-folk
all say I hev to be humoured, an' I don't kerry things to the
sweatin'-point."

"'Course I've no prejudice against a top-buggy s' long's I can