"
"But s'posin' Mr. Sawyer licks Bob Wood?" queried Ezekiel.
"Oh! I don't count much on that," said Strout; "but if it should turn
out that way we're goin' to turn in and get up a surprise party for Miss
Mason and jist leave him out."
"I hope you ain't goin' to do any fightin' down to Deacon Mason's?"
remarked Ezekiel.
"Oh, no!" protested Strout, "it'll be kind o' quiet, underminin' work,
as it were. Remarks and sayin's and side whispers and odd looks, the
cold shoulder business, you know, that soon tells a feller that his
company ain't appreciated."
"Well, I don't think that's quite fair," said Ezekiel. "You don't like
him, Mr. Strout, but I don't think the whole town will take it up."
The Professor said sternly, "He has insulted me and in doing that he has
insulted the whole town of Eastborough."
A smothered laugh was heard.
"By George! What was that?" cried Strout.
Ezekiel was at a loss what to say, and before he could reply, Mandy's
laughing had caused the hay to move. As it began to slide she clutched
at Hiram in a vain effort to save herself, and the next instant a large
pile of hay, bearing Hiram and Mandy, came down, falling upon Ezekiel
and Strout and covering them from sight.
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