Old John fairly choked with rage . `` You young fool , '' he spluttered , bringing down his hoe with such energy that he sliced off half a dozen of his finest young turnip plants , `` have you gone clean crazy ? No , sir , I 'll never consent to your marrying an Oliver , and you need n't have any idea that I will . '' `` Then I 'll marry her without your consent , '' retorted Burton angrily , losing the temper he had been trying to keep . `` Oh , will you indeed ! Well , if you do , out you go , and not a cent of my money or a rod of my land do you ever get . '' `` What have you got against Madge ? '' asked Burton , forcing himself to speak calmly , for he knew his father too well to doubt for a minute that he meant and would do just what he said . `` She 's an Oliver , '' said old John crustily , `` and that 's enough . '' And considering that he had settled the matter , John Ellis threw down his hoe and left the field in a towering rage . Burton hoed away savagely until his anger had spent itself on the weeds . Give up Madge -- dear , sweet little Madge ? Not he ! Yet if his father remained of the same mind , their marriage was out of the question at present . And Burton knew quite well that his father would remain of the same mind . Old John Ellis had the reputation of being the most contrary man in Greenwood . When Burton had finished his row he left the turnip field and went straight across lots to see Madge and tell her his dismal story . An hour later Miss Susan Oliver went up the stairs of her little brown house to Madge 's room and found her niece lying on the bed , her pretty curls tumbled , her soft cheeks flushed crimson , crying as if her heart would break . Miss Susan was a tall , grim , angular spinster who looked like the last person in the world to whom a love affair might be confided . But never were appearances more deceptive than in this case .
Behind her unprepossessing exterior Miss Susan had a warm , sympathetic heart filled XXXXX the brim with kindly affection for her pretty niece .
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