"
"Then let's don't quarrel," said Margaret, holding out her hands.
He put his arms about her. "No, we won't. An' don't be jealous of that
po' little grave."
"No, Jasper, for she was the mother of soldiers."
Lije Peters came in, clearing his throat. Starbuck looked round at him
and said: "An' Satan come also."
"Starbuck," Peters began, "I want to see you a minit, by yo'se'f."
"I don't know that I've got anythin' to say to you, Lije, but that door
thar allus stands open, and I ain't in the habit of orderin' folks out
of my house. Margaret, will you please go in thar?" he added, motioning
with his head.
"But you won't have no trouble, will you, Jasper?"
"Trouble mostly comes to them that looks for it. I ain't lookin'."
Margaret went to the door, halted, looked back and then passed into the
adjoining room. Starbuck sat on a corner of the table. Peters stood
looking at him. Peters was much the larger man, and lifting at a
handspike, in the clearing at a log-rolling, would have been stronger;
but the bully, the half-coward, in combat, is rarely as strong as the
brave man.
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