leisurely filled the bowl. Whilst he was lighting his pipe at the hearth, where an old pile was smouldering, and emitting an odour like gunpowder, Mehalah drew a purse from her pocket and counted the amount of the rent on the table. Rebow did not observe her. He was engaged in making his pipe draw, and the table was behind the chair.
"Well!" said he, blowing a puff of smoke, and chuckling, "I fancy you are in a pretty predicament. Read that over the fire, cut yonder, do you see? ‘When I hold, I hold fast.’ I didn't cut that, but my fore-elders did, and we all do that. Why, George De Witt's mother thought to have had some pickings out of the marsh, she did, but my father got hold of it, and he held fast. He did not let go a penny; no, not a farthing. It is a family characteristic. It is a family pleasure. We take a pride in it. I don't care what it is, whether it is a bit of land, or a piece of coin, or a girl, it is all the same, and I think you'll find it is so with me. Eh! Glory! When I hold, I hold fast." He turned in his chair and leered at her.
"There, there," said she, "lay hold of your rent, and hold fast till death. We want none of it."
"What is that?" exclaimed Rebow, starting out of his seat. " What money is that?"
"The rent," said Mehalah; she stood erect beside the table in her haughty beauty, and laughed at the surprised and angry expression that clouded Rebow's countenance.
"I won't take it. You have stolen it."
"Master Rebow," put in the widow, "the money is yours; it is the rent, not a penny short."
"Where did you get the money?" he asked with a curse.
"You bid me bring the money on rent-day, and there it is," said Mehalah. "But now I will ask a question, and I insist on an answer."
"Oh! you insist, do you?"
"I insist on an answer," repeated the girl. "How did you come to think we were without money?"
"Suppose I don't choose to answer."
"If you don't" she began, then hesitated.
"I will tell you," he said, sulkily. "Abraham Dowsing,
