“But you won’t bring back the cold chicken and ham,” retorted Liza.
“Why, how could I, my dear? You know they won’t keep.”
“Well, once for all, mother, I won’t, and there’s an end of it.”
“You’ll break my heart, Liza, ’fore you’ve done,” whimpered the fish-woman. “Think o’ the days and days as I’ve carried you ’bout in this very basket, when I’ve been out gathering mussels or selling fish.”
“Now, don’t talk stuff, mother. You weared out half-a-dozen baskets since then.”
“P’r’aps I have, Liza, but I haven’t weared out the feeling that you’re my gal, as lives here on the fat o’ the land, and hot puddens every day, and refuses to give your poor mother a bit o’ broken wittle to save her from starving. Oh!”
“Mother, don’t?” cried Liza, stamping her foot. “If you cry like that they’ll hear you in the parlour.”
“Then give me a bit o’ something to eat, and let me go.”
“I won’t, and that’s flat, mother.”
“Then I shall sit down on the front door-step, and I’ll wait till Miss Louy comes; and she’ll make you give me something. No, I won’t; I’ll stop till cook comes. Where is she?”