I learned how to manage him then , and I have n't forgotten how . I 'm going straight up to interview him . '' `` Are you sure that will do any good ? '' said Madge doubtfully . `` If you go to him and take Burton 's and my part , wo n't it only make him worse ? '' `` Madge , dear , '' said Miss Susan , busily twisting her scanty , iron-grey hair up into a hard little knob at the back of her head before Madge 's glass , `` you just wait . I 'm not young , and I 'm not pretty , and I 'm not in love , but I 've more gumption than you and Burton have or ever will have . You keep your eyes open and see if you can learn something . You 'll need it if you go up to live with old John Ellis . '' Burton had returned to the turnip field , but old John Ellis was taking his ease with a rampant political newspaper on the cool verandah of his house . Looking up from a bitter editorial to chuckle over a cutting sarcasm contained therein , he saw a tall , angular figure coming up the lane with aggressiveness written large in every fold and flutter of shawl and skirt . `` Old Susan Oliver , as sure as a gun , '' said old John with another chuckle . `` She looks mad clean through . I suppose she 's coming here to blow me up for refusing to let Burton take that girl of hers . She 's been angling and scheming for it for years , but she will find who she has to deal with . Come on , Miss Susan . '' John Ellis laid down his paper and stood up with a sarcastic smile . Miss Susan reached the steps and skimmed undauntedly up them . She did indeed look angry and disturbed . Without any preliminary greeting she burst out into a tirade that simply took away her complacent foe 's breath .
`` Look here , John XXXXX , I want to know what this means .
Burton Ellis John Madge Oliver Susan back love tirade years