A Colonial Wooing
intensified as his views of religion became more and more pronounced. Possibly he would not have burned a church or hanged a churchman, but he would have removed them from the province to the nearest desert.
Robert Pearson had turned his back upon his neighbor when he ceased speaking, and was about resuming his conversation that had been so strangely interrupted, when it occurred to him that he would still further speak his mind, and, facing about, added, "I am as much bound by my interests to this country as you are, hold as many acres, pay as large a tax, and trust I have a right to expect as much respect from my fellows. We were talking of a project that concerns us all, that of building a draw-bridge over the creek, where the ferry now is. You know the ford was but a poor accommodation, and now the ferry is little better. A bridge would be greatly to our advantage."
"I do not know that the ferry has ever failed to bring me over safely," remarked Matthew, in a haughty tone, for his anger
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