"
"At all events, you don't refuse to take her for a week or two?" asked
Emmanuel innocently.
"Did I say I refused? Did I send her up stairs as the nighest road to
the street-door?" retorted his sister with disdain. "Did I not tell you,
as plain as tongue could speak, that she is welcome to her bit and sup,
and I'll pass the time away for her in the best way I can, though bad is
the best, I reckon?"
"Well, well, you are a good body," said her brother.
"Ay," she answered, "I am good enough when I jump your way. But tell me,
Emmanuel," changing from the disdain of the superior creature holding
forth on high matters to the inferior to the familiar gossip of the
natural woman, "what's to do with her? It's as plain as a pike-staff
that something is troubling her, and maybe it will be some of your love
nonsense? for it's mainly that as fashes the lasses. Good Lord! I'm
thankful I was never hindered that way."
"Yes," said Mr. Gryce, "she has had what you women call a
disappointment; and," speaking with unusual energy, "the man was a fool
and a coward, and she has had a lucky escape."
"Say ye? If so, then there is no call for her to carry on," said Keziah
philosophically. "But the poor bairn's looking wantle enough now, though
I warrant me the fell-side air will brisk her up in no time."
"I hope it will," said her brother.
"What does she eat, now? You see, now I've got the lass on my hands, I
cannot hunger her," said Keziah.
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