"Yes, sir; but"--

"But what?"

"There's no other way for Mr. Halpin's folks to get to the public
road."

"That's none of my business; they've no right to make a public
highway of these premises. You heard what I said?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then let it be done."

"Obey orders, if you break owners," muttered Ben, as Mr. Bolton
turned and marched away with long and hasty strides. "But if there
isn't a nice tea-party somewhere about these diggins before
to-morrow morning, my name isn't Ben Johnson."

Before reaching his house, Mr. Bolton's excitement had cooled a
trifle, and it came into his mind that _possibly_ he might have
acted a _little_ hastily; but the order had been given to cut off
the right of way, and he was not the man to "make back-tracks" in
any thing.

"Do you see that, Edward?" said Mrs. Bolton, as her husband entered
the house, pointing to a table on which stood a pitcher of sweet
cream and two pounds of fresh butter. "Mrs. Halpin sent these over,
with her compliments, this morning; isn't it kind in her?"