That is, she had mean aims, a bad temper, no imagination,
but the capacity for pity and generosity on occasions.
Above all things, she hated to be put out of the way or intruded on.
When her brother Emmanuel came down on her without a word of warning,
bringing a girl with eyes that, as she said, made her feel foolish to
look at, and a manner part scared, part stony, and wholly unconformable,
telling her to keep this precious-bit madam like a bale of goods till
called for, and to do the best with it she could, she was justified, she
said, in splurging against his thoughtlessness and want of
consideration, taking a body like that all of a heap, without With your
leave or By your leave, or giving one a chance of saying Yes I will, or
No I won't.
But though she splurged she gave way; and after she had fumed and
fussed, heckled the maid and harried the man, said she didn't see as how
she could, and she didn't think as how she would, sworn there was no
bedding fit to use, and that she had no place for the things--apples and
onions chiefly--that were in the spare room if she gave it up for the
young lass's use, she seemed to quiet down, and going over to Leam,
standing mutely by the black-boarded fireplace, put on her spectacles,
peered up into her face, and said in shrill tones, rasping as a saw,
though she meant to be kind, "Ah, well! I suppose it must be; so go your
ways up stairs with Jenny, bairn, and make yourself at home.
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