Mrs Greenways was a kind-hearted woman in spite of her coarse nature. She could not exactly see what had made Lilac cry just now, but she went up to her and spoke soothingly.
“There, there,” she said, “it’s natural to take on, but you’ll be better soon, when you get down to the farm alonger Agnetta. You must think of all you’ve got to be thankful for. And now I should relish a cup o’ tea, for I started away early; so we’ll go down and you’ll get it for me, I dessay. I brought a little in my pocket in case you should be out of it. I shouldn’t wonder if Bella was able to give this a bit of style,”—taking off the bonnet. “She’s wonderful clever with her fingers.”
Mrs Greenways drank her tea, made Lilac take some and eat some bread and butter, which she wished to refuse but dared not.
“Now you feel better, don’t you?” she said good-naturedly. “And before I start off home, Lilac, I’ve got a word to say, and that is that I hope you’re proper and thankful for all your uncle’s going to do for you.”
“Yes, Aunt,” said Lilac.
“If it wasn’t for him, you know, there’d only be the house for you to go to. Just think o’ that! What a disgrace it ’ud be! It’s a great expense to have an extry mouth to feed and a growing girl to clothe in these bad times, but we must put up with it.”
“I can work, Aunt,” said Lilac. “I can do lots of things.”
“Well, I hope you’ll do what you can,” replied Mrs Greenways. “Because, as you haven’t a penny of your own, you ought to do summat in return for your uncle’s charity. That’s only fair and right, isn’t it?”
Her mother’s words came into Lilac’s mind: “Don’t be beholden to no one.”
“I don’t mind work, Aunt,” she repeated more boldly. “I’d rather work. Mother, she always taught me to.”