Mr.Howitt gasped as he dropped back into his seat.

He felt a hysterical impulse to laugh, to cry out.

Young Matt continued; "He's come home, Dad, with all his fine clothes and city airs, and now she'll go away with him, and we won't never see her again." As he began to put his thoughts into words, the giant got upon his feet, and walked the floor like one insane.

"He shan't have her," he cried, clenching his great fists; "he shan't have her.

If he was a man I could stand it, Dad.