'Come, lass, what do you mean?'

'He be old Silas's miller, and what's that to thee?'

With these words the girl made a spring on the hasp of the padlock, and
then got easily over the gate.

'Can't you do that, cousin?' whispered Milly to me, with an impatient
nudge. 'I _wish_ you'd try.'

'No, dear--come away, Milly,' and I began to withdraw.

'Lookee, lass, 'twill be an ill day's work for thee when I tell the
Governor,' said Milly, addressing the girl, who stood on a log of timber at
the other side, regarding us with a sullen composure.

'We'll be over in spite o' you,' cried Milly.

'You lie!' answered she.

'And why not, huzzy?' demanded my cousin, who was less incensed at the
affront than I expected. All this time I was urging Milly in vain to come
away.

'Yon lass is no wild cat, like thee--that's why,' said the sturdy portress.

'If I cross, I'll give you a knock,' said Milly.

'And I'll gi' thee another,' she answered, with a vicious wag of the head.