"You was n't responsible f'r the cow's gettin', 'n' Jathrop was. It's Jathrop 's is to blame, 'n' if any one's to be sued it 'd ought to be him, 'n' he ain't got no property but the cow, 'n' she's hung up dead 'n' her own damage, so it's no use sum' him f'r anythin'. Folks 's ain't got nothin' don't never have any law troubles, 'n' Jathrop is gone off 'n' so he 's specially handy to blame for everythin'. 'S far 's my observation 's 'xtended, it 's always folks a long ways off 's it's wisest to lay all the faults to, 'n' 'f I was you—" 

 Mrs. Lathrop's eyes suddenly started out of her head. 

 "I can't feel my leg!" she cried. 

 Susan sprang to her feet. 

 "It's the plaster!" she exclaimed; then, starting towards the door, "I 'll run 'n' get the axe 'n' hack you right out." 

 "No—no," screamed Mrs. Lathrop, "not the axe." 

 "Then I 'll bring up the teakettle 'n' pour boilin' water on it till it softens 'n' comes off." 

 "No, I don't want—" 

 "Well, Mrs. Lathrop,"—Susan looked her disapproval,—"seems to me you 're jus' a little fussy. I must say if you ain't willin' to have it broke off or soaked off, I can't well see how it's goin' to be got off." 

 Mrs. Lathrop bunched herself somewhat, and a grating and powdering noise resulted. 

 "I drew it right up!" she cried joyfully. 

 Susan's expression became enigmatic. 

 Mrs. Lathrop manoeuvred further. 

 "I straightened it out!" she announced further. 

 Miss Clegg approached the bed. 

 "I don't believe 's it was ever broke," she said in deep disgust. 

 "Dr. Brown said he wa'n't sure," the invalid continued, elongating and contracting herself, caterpillar-like,' "he said 's he 'd wait the windin'—" 

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