Just as Anne emerged from under the overhanging beech boughs she heard Corcoran say , `` If you 'll vote for Amesbury , Parker ... well , I 've a note for that pair of harrows you 've got in the spring . I suppose you would n't object to having it back , eh ? '' `` We ... ll , since you put it in that way , '' drawled Judson with a grin , `` I reckon I might as well do it . A man must look out for his own interests in these hard times . '' Both saw Anne at this moment and conversation abruptly ceased . Anne bowed frostily and walked on , with her chin slightly more tilted than usual . Soon Judson Parker overtook her . `` Have a lift , Anne ? '' he inquired genially . `` Thank you , no , '' said Anne politely , but with a fine , needle-like disdain in her voice that pierced even Judson Parker 's none too sensitive consciousness . His face reddened and he twitched his reins angrily ; but the next second prudential considerations checked him . He looked uneasily at Anne , as she walked steadily on , glancing neither to the right nor to the left . Had she heard Corcoran 's unmistakable offer and his own too plain acceptance of it ? Confound Corcoran ! If he could n't put his meaning into less dangerous phrases he 'd get into trouble some of these long-come-shorts . And confound redheaded school-ma ` ams with a habit of popping out of beechwoods where they had no business to be . If Anne had heard , Judson Parker , measuring her corn in his own half bushel , as the country saying went , and cheating himself thereby , as such people generally do , believed that she would tell it far and wide . Now , Judson Parker , as has been seen , was not overly regardful of public opinion ; but to be known as having accepted a bribe would be a nasty thing ; and if it ever reached Isaac Spencer 's ears farewell forever to all hope of winning Louisa Jane with her comfortable prospects as the heiress of a well-to-do farmer . Judson Parker knew that Mr. Spencer looked somewhat askance at him as it was ; he could not afford to take any risks . `` Ahem ... Anne , I 've been wanting to see you about that little matter we were discussing the other day .
I 've decided not XXXXX let my fences to that company after all .
about as for if in into of since than to