`` Do n't worry , Madge , '' said Miss Susan comfortingly . `` I 'll soon settle old John Ellis . '' `` Why , what can you do ? '' asked Madge forlornly . Miss Susan squared her shoulders and looked amused . `` You 'll see . I know old John Ellis better than he knows himself . He is the most contrary man the Lord ever made . I went to school with him . 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 XXXXX another chuckle .
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