“Well, I ain’t goin’ to be no different, then,” repeated Lucy doggedly. “And I won’t take in no more work, thank ye.”
She tried to rise, but Miss Hearn held her with a mighty eye.
“Woman, do you know as you’re settin’ up yer ’orn against the Lord God A’mighty?” said she solemnly. “And do you know as you’ll be punished h’awful?”
“I been punished a’ready,” said Lucy.
“And if ye don’t do as ye ought by them as ye’ve brought into this sinful vale, ye’ll be punished worse,” decreed Miss Hearn.
“Them above ’as done their worst by me,” said Lucy, with a wan smile. “I don’t h’expec’ no more from them, and they don’t need to h’expec’ no more from me.”
Miss Hearn lifted her hands to heaven in silent horror.
“There, now, ye know ye care for the childer,” said the old housekeeper, from the doorway.
At the kind tones the tears sprang to Lucy’s eyes.
“There be enough for them,” she said.