"
"It is very well as it is, Betty," said Lawton. "A day will yet come, I
trust, when these miscreants shall be rewarded, if not in judgments upon
their persons, at least in the opinions of their fellow citizens. The
time must arrive when America will distinguish between a patriot and
a robber."
"Speak low," said Katy; "there's some who think much of themselves, that
have doings with the Skinners."
"It's more they are thinking of themselves, then, than other people
thinks of them," cried Betty. "A t'ief's a t'ief, anyway; whether he
stales for King George or for Congress."
"I know'd that evil would soon happen," said Katy. "The sun set to-night
behind a black cloud, and the house dog whined, although I gave him his
supper with my own hands; besides, it's not a week sin' I dreamed the
dream about the thousand lighted candles, and the cakes burnt in
the oven."
"Well," said Betty, "it's but little I drame, anyway. Jist keep an 'asy
conscience and a plenty of the stuff in ye, and ye'll sleep like an
infant. The last drame I had was when the boys put the thistle tops in
the blankets, and then I was thinking that Captain Jack's man was
currying me down, for the matter of Roanoke, but it's no trifle I mind
either in skin or stomach."
"I'm sure," said Katy, with a stiff erectness that drew Lawton back in
his saddle, "no man shall ever dare to lay hands on bed of mine; it's
undecent and despisable conduct.
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