'I am working, father,' said Netta.
'Pretty working sure enough. What nonsense have you got reading now?'
'Peter Simple, father, oh it is so funny.'
'Ah! it was that stupid stuff, and 'The Pilot,' and 'The Spy,' and I don't know what else, that sent Owen off to sea. I suppose it's there you learn all your nonsense. I wish you would read the cookery book, and help your mother to take care of the house and dairy, instead of doing what's no good in the world.'
A loud knocking at the door interrupted a rather pert reply.
'Who on earth is that at this time of night?' exclaimed the farmer, throwing down his paper.
'Shanno,' called Mrs Prothero into the passage, 'ask who it is before you open the door.'
'It's no great things,' suggested Netta, 'for they're knocking with a stick, and not with the knocker.'
'Name o' goodness, what's the row?' said the farmer.
'Who's there?' demanded Shanno, in the passage.