She knew pretty well what ugly face would look up at her when she spoke; for she felt sure that the slouching, ungainly figure was that of Simon Hartley.

Her heart burned with indignation against the graceless, thankless churl who could rob the man on whose charity he had been living for two years.

She made a step forward, with words of righteous wrath on her lips; then paused, as a new thought struck her.
This man was an absolute ruffian; and though she believed him to be an absolute coward also, still he must know that she and Dame Hartley were alone in the house.

He must know also that the farmer was at some distance, else he would not have ventured to do this.

What should she do?
she asked herself again.