"
"If I know the number of the fingers of my hand, it is the fourth!"
"Nay, how canst thou, Eben Dudley, who hast been afield since the crowing
of the cock, know what hath passed about the dwellings? It is plain that
envy, or some other evil passion, causeth thee to speak angrily."
"How is it that I know! perhaps thou thinkest Faith, thy brother Reuben,
only, hath the gift of sight,"
"The labor must have gone on with great profit to the Captain, whilst eyes
have been roving over other matters! But perhaps they kept the strong of
arm for the lookers-out, and have set them of feebler bodies to the toil."
"I have not been so careless of thy life as to forget, at passing
moments, to cast an eye abroad, pert-one. Whatever thou mayst think of
the need, there would be fine wailings in the butteries and dairies, did
the Wampanoags get into the clearing, and were there none to give the
alarm in season."
"Truly, Eben, thy terror of the child in the block must be grievous for
one of thy manhood, else wouldst thou not watch the buildings so
narrowly," retorted Faith, laughing; for with the dexterity of her sex,
she began to feel the superiority she was gradually obtaining in the
discourse.
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