“Sure, sirs,” she said, “I would no more consent to her going to the union, nor I would one o’ my own. Sirs, I’ve thirteen a’ready, and I don’t mind making ’em fourteen; certain, one more or less can’t make no noticeable difference in a family like mine, unless it should be one less instead o’ one more, which the Lord in his mercy forbid!” added the mother, fervently.
“Thirteen children! Do you tell me to my face that you have thirteen children, woman? What do you mean by having thirteen children in an over-populated parish like this? I should think a visitation of the scarlet-fever would be a godsend to you,” said one of the officers, staring in astonishment.
“Now, may the Lord forgive you for that speech, sir! And as for the rest, sir, if ever I bring my children on the parish, it will be time enough for you to reproach me for first bringing ’em into the world. And more be token, instead of wanting to put a child on the parish, I am offering for to take one offen it,” said the widow, in honest indignation.
“And that’s true, too,” observed the other officer, “but then you have enough to support now; you will never be able to bear the burdens of an additional one.”
“Lord, sir, it will be but the putting of a ha’-penny more on every measure of peas, or potatoes, and persuading the people that they are better nor usual,” added Mrs. Corder, sotto voce.
“Humph, humph, well, we will leave the child with you to-night, and think about it. Perhaps the parish may give you something for keeping her, until she recovers herself, and is strong enough to be bound out.”
“Sirs, I thank you; but I would no more take parish help for her nor I would for one of my own, as I told your worships before.”
“Well, well, my good woman, there will be time enough to think of that,” said the senior officer, as himself and his companion took their leave.
This conversation had taken place in the little back parlor behind the shop.
But there had been one unseen, silent, but attentive listener to this discourse. And that listener was Annella, who, crouching in her grief in a dark corner of the room, had been a witness to the whole interview. And while Mrs. Corder was attending the parish officers to the shop-door, Annella slipped through the side-door opening from the little back parlor into the hall, and crept away to the privacy of her own room, there to mature her plans for the future.