His head was full of blood; there was a weight on his tongue striking it
silent and forcing his mouth open at the same moment. The world looked red
as he saw it; his limbs were not bearing him stiffly. Thomasin had her eye
upon him, for she was quite prepared to throw over her previous statements
and support her husband against an attack so astounding and unexpected. And
the more so that he had not himself hurled an immediate and crushing
answer.
Meantime the old farmer's sudden fires died within him; he shrank to his
true self, and the voice in which he now spoke seemed that of another man.
"Give heed to what I've said to 'e, Michael, an' be humble afore the Lard
same as your darter be. Go in fear, as you be forever biddin' all flaish to
go. Never say no sawl's lost while you give all power to the Maker o'
sawls. Go in fear, I sez, else theer'll come a whirlwind o' God-sent sorrer
to strike wheer your heart's desire be rooted. 'Tis allus so--allus--"
Tom entered upon these words, and Uncle Chirgwin's eyes dropping upon him
as he spoke, his utterance sounded like a prophecy. So the boy's mother
read it, and with a half sob, half shriek, she turned in all the frenzy of
sudden maternal wrath. Her sharp tongue dropped mere vituperation, but did
so with boundless vigor, and the woman's torrent of unbridled curses and
threats swept that scene of storm to its close. Joan went first from the
door, while Mr.
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