"I ain't much better orf'n ye be, but I hain't got nothin ontew my
conscience. An wen I looks roun' an sees the oppresshin, and the
poverty of the people, and how they have none tew help, an the jails
so full, an the taxes, an the plague o' lawyers, an the voice o' cryin
as is goin up from the land, an all the consekences o' the war, I tell
ye, it's considabul satisfacshin to feel ez I kin wash my hans on't."
And, with a glance of contemptuous triumph around the circle, Jabez
turned on his heel and went out. The silence was first broken by Ezra
Phelps, who said quietly:

"Wal, Jabez ain't fur from right. It's abaout so. Some says the King
is callatin to try to git the colonies back agin fore long. Ef he doos
I guess he'll make aout, fur I don't bleeve ez a kumpny o' men could
be raised in all Berkshire, tew go an fight the redcoats agin, if they
wuz to come to-morrer." And a general murmur of assent confirmed his
words.

"Wal," said Abner, recovering speech, "live an larn. In them days wen
I went a gunnin arter Jabez, I uster to think ez thar wuzn't no sech
varmint ez a Tory, but I didn't know nothin bout lawyers, and sheriffs
them times. I callate ye could cut five Tories aout o' one lawyer an
make a dozen skunks aout o' what wuz leff over. I'm a goin hum."

This was the signal for a general break-up. Israel, who had fallen
into a boozy slumber on the settle, was roused and sent home between
his son and hired man, and presently the tavern was dark save for the
soon extinguished glimmer of a candle at the upstairs window of Widow
Bingham's apartment. Meshech was left to snore upon the barroom floor
and grope his way outdoors as best he might, when he should return to