"Alack, girl, I have seen it so often; 'twill come into my mind now at each parting. When I was your age, I never had such a thought. Nay, we were all to live for ever then: so out wi' it."
"Well then, mother—I would rather not have told you—your Cornelis must say to me, 'So you are come to share with us, eh, mistress?' those were his words. I told him I would be very sorry."
"Beshrew his ill tongue! What signifies it? He will never know."
"Most likely he would sooner or later. But, whether or no, I will take no grudge bounty from any family; unless I saw my child starving, and then Heaven only knows what I might do. Nay, mother, give me but thy love—I do prize that above silver, and they grudge me not that, by all I can find—for not a stiver of money will I take out of your house."
"You are a foolish lass. Why, were it me, I'd take it just to spite him."
"No, you would not. You and I are apples off one tree."
Catherine yielded with a good grace; and, when the actual parting came, embraces and tears burst forth on both sides.
MARGARET HAD MOMENTS OF BLISS
When she was gone the child cried a good deal; and all attempts to pacify him failing, Margaret suspected a pin, and, searching between his clothes and his skin, found a gold angel incommoding his backbone.