“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 grudged bounty from any family; unless I saw my child starving, and—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.
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.
“There, now, Gerard,” said she to the babe; “I thought granny gave in rather sudden.”
She took the coin and wrapped it in a piece of linen, and laid it at the bottom of her box, bidding the infant observe she could be at times as resolute as granny herself.
Catherine told Eli of Margaret's foolish pride, and how she had baffled it. Eli said Margaret was right, and she was wrong.
Catherine tossed her head. Eli pondered.