"I supplicate your pardon, my dear mother," said Vanslyperken, who felt that in her present humour he was not likely to gain the point with her that he had in contemplation. "I was so vexed--so irritated--that I knew not what I was saying."
"Blind old woman, indeed," repeated the beldame.
"I again beg you to forgive me, dearest mother," continued Vanslyperken.
"All about a dog's tail cut off. Better off than on--so much the less mange on the snarling cur."
This was touching up Vanslyperken on the raw; but he had a great object in view, and he restrained his feelings.
"I was wrong, mother--very wrong--but I have done all I can, I have begged your pardon. I came here for your advice and assistance."
"What advice or assistance can you expect from a blind old woman?" retorted the old hag. "And what advice or assistance does so undutiful a child deserve?"
It was some time before the ruffled temper of the beldame could be appeased: at last, Vanslyperken succeeded. He then entered into a detail of all that had passed, and concluded by observing, "that as Smallbones was not to be injured by mortal man, he had come to her for assistance."
"That is to say--you have come to me to ask me to knock the lad's brains out--to take away his life--to murder him, in fact. Say, Cornelius, is it not so?"
"It is exactly so, my dearest mother. I know your courage--your--"