Come
away, and I will keep off the buggaboos."
"I did milk them - no thanks to your kindness, Mr. Malcolm - but - "
"But what?"
"The ox frightened me, and I fell and spilt all the milk."
"Whew! Now don't go and tell your husband that it was all my fault;
if you had had a little patience, I would have come when you asked
me, but I don't choose to be dictated to, and I won't be made a
slave by you or any one else."
"Then why do you stay, sir, where you consider yourself so treated?"
said I. "We are all obliged to work to obtain bread; we give you the
best share - surely the return we ask for it is but small."
"You make me feel my obligations to you when you ask me to do
anything; if you left it to my better feelings we should get on
better."
"Perhaps you are right. I will never ask you to do anything for me
in future."
"Oh, now, that's all mock-humility. In spite of the tears in your
eyes, you are as angry with me as ever; but don't go to make
mischief between me and Moodie. If you'll say nothing about my
refusing to go with you, I'll milk the cows for you myself
to-night."
"And can you milk?" said I, with some curiosity.
"Milk! Yes; and if I were not so confoundedly low-spirited
and - lazy, I could do a thousand other things too.
