'Fayther.'
'Old Pegtop. Well, _that's_ summat to laugh at, it is--our servant
a-shutting us out of our own grounds.'
'No servant o' yourn!'
'Come, lass, what do you mean?'
'He be old Silas's miller, and what's that to thee?'
With these words the girl made a spring on the hasp of the padlock, and
then got easily over the gate.
'Can't you do that, cousin?' whispered Milly to me, with an impatient
nudge. 'I _wish_ you'd try.'
'No, dear--come away, Milly,' and I began to withdraw.
'Lookee, lass, 'twill be an ill day's work for thee when I tell the
Governor,' said Milly, addressing the girl, who stood on a log of timber at
the other side, regarding us with a sullen composure.
'We'll be over in spite o' you,' cried Milly.
'You lie!' answered she.
'And why not, huzzy?' demanded my cousin, who was less incensed at the
affront than I expected. All this time I was urging Milly in vain to come
away.
'Yon lass is no wild cat, like thee--that's why,' said the sturdy portress.
'If I cross, I'll give you a knock,' said Milly.
'And I'll gi' thee another,' she answered, with a vicious wag of the head.
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