“Whom?—Edward Benden? No, I’m in no haste to go near him.”
“I would, if I knew it should vex him.”
“Tabitha!” said Roger, with gentle reproval.
“Roger Hall, if you’d had to stand up to King Ahab, you’d have made a downright poor Elijah!”
“Very like, Tabitha. I dare say you’d have done better.”
“Father,” said Christie, “did you hear what should come of Master White, and Mistress Final, and all the rest.”
“No, my dear heart: I could hear nought, save only that they were had up afore my Lord of Dover, and that he was very round with them, but all they stood firm.”
“What, Sens Bradbridge and all?” said Tabitha. “I’d have gone bail that poor sely hare should have cried off at the first shot of Dick o’ Dover’s arrow. Stood she firm, trow?”
“All of them, I heard. Why, Tabitha, the Lord’s grace could hold up Sens Bradbridge as well as Tabitha Hall.”
“There’d be a vast sight more wanted, I promise you!” said Tabitha self-righteously. “There isn’t a poorer creature in all this ’varsal world, nor one with fewer wits in her head than Sens Bradbridge. I marvel how Benedick stood her; but, dear heart! men are that stupid! Christie, don’t you never go to marry a man. I’ll cut you off with a shilling an’ you do.”