“Money flies so.”
“Then let some fly to a gude end. You knaw I’m a hard, keen man where other people be concerned, most times.”
His wife laughed frankly, and he grew red.
“Damn it, Phoebe, doan’t you take me like that else you’ll get the rough edge of my tongue. ’Tis for you to agree with what I’m pleased to say, not contradict it. I be a hard, keen man, and knaws the value of money as well as another. But Chris is my awn sister, an’ the long an’ the short is, I’m gwaine to give Clem Hicks a hunderd pound.”
“Will! It’s not reasonable, it’s not fair—us working so hard an’—an’—”
“They ’m to have it, anyway.”
Her breath caught in a little, helpless gasp. Without a word she picked up the material in her hands, huddled it up, and thrust it across the table towards him. Then the passion faded out of his face, his eyes softened and grew dreamy, he smiled, and rubbed his brown cheek with the flannel.
“My awn, li’l clever woman, as have set about the fashioning of a bairn so soon! God bless ’e, an’ bless ’e an’ be gude to ’e, an’ the wee thing coming!”
He put his arm round her and patted her hair and purred softly to her; whereupon she relented and kissed him.
“You knaw best, Will, dearie; you nearly allus knaw best; but your heart’s bigger ’n your pocket—an’ a li’l child do call so loud for the spendin’ o’ money.”