The road was now very rough, and the ruts were deep and full of holes.
George Washington seemed to be stumbling through tall grass and bushes,
and the carryall jolted and rocked from side to side. Miss Parker grew
more and more nervous. After a particularly severe jolt she could not
hold in any longer.
"Land of love, Caleb!" she gasped. "Where ARE you goin'! It doesn't seem
as if this could be the right road!"
"I don't know whether 'tis or not; but it's too narrow and too dark to
turn 'round, so we've got to go ahead, that's all."
"Oh, heavens! What a jounce that was! Seems to me you're awful reckless.
I wish Kenelm was drivin'; he's always so careful."
This was too much. Mr. Hammond suppressed his feelings no longer.
"I wish to thunder he was!" he roared. "I wish Kenelm or some other dam'
fool was here instead of me."
"Caleb HAMMOND!"
"I don't care, Hannah. You're enough to drive a deacon to swearin'.
It's been nothin' but nag, nag, nag, fight, fight, fight ever since this
cruise started. If--if we row like this afore we're married what'll
it be afterwards? Talk about bein' independent! Git dap there!" this a
savage roar at George Washington, who had stopped again. "I do believe
the idiot's struck with a palsy."
Hannah leaned forward and touched her fellow-sufferer on the arm. "Sshh,
shh, Caleb!" she said. "Don't holler so. I don't blame you for hollerin'
and--and I declare I don't know as I much blame you for swearin', though
I never thought I'D live to say a thing like that.
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