did
really grow taller; her face flamed, her eyes flashed, and, in a voice
authoritative and irresistible, she commanded him to desist.

"You are my worst enemy," she said. "You are as deaf as the village
gossips. You will not listen to the truth. Your abuse, heard by every
servant in the house, certifies all that malice dares to think. And
in wounding my honour you are a parricide to our mother's good name! I
am ashamed of you, Will!"

From head to foot she reflected the indignation in her heart, as she
stood erect with her hands clasped and the palms dropped downward, no
sign of tears, no quiver of fear or doubt, no retreat, and no
submission, in her face or attitude.

"Why, whatever is the matter with you, Aspatria?"

At this moment Brune entered, and she went to him, and put her hand
through his arm, and said: "Brune, speak for me! Will has insulted
mother and father, through me, in such a way that I can never forgive
him!"

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Will Anneys!" And Brune put his
sister gently behind him, and then marched squarely up to his
brother's face. "You are as passionate as a brute beast, Will, and
that, too, with a poor little lass that has her own troubles, and has
borne them like--like a good woman always does."

"I do not want to hear you speak, Brune."

"Ay, but I will speak, and you shall hear me. I tell you, Aspatria is
in no kind to blame. The man came on her sudden, out of the
plantation. She did not take his hand, she did not listen to him. She
sent him about his business as quick as might be."

"Lottie Patterson saw her," said Will, dourly.

"Because Aspatria called Lottie Patterson to her; and if Lottie
Patterson says she saw anything more or worse than ought to be, I will
pretty soon call upon Seth Patterson to make his sister's words good.
Cush! I will that! And what is more, Will Anneys, if you do not know
how to take care of your sister's good name, I will teach you,--you
mouse of a man! You go and side with that Frostham set against
Aspatria! Chaff on the Frosthams! It is a bad neighbourhood where a
girl like Aspatria cannot say a word or two on the king's highway at
broad noonday, without having a _sisserara_ about it."

"I did not side with the Frosthams against Aspatria."

"I'll be bound you did!"

"Let me alone, Brune! Go your ways out of here, both of you!"

"To be sure, we will both go. Come, Aspatria. When you are tired of
ballooning, William Anneys, and