Volume Two—Chapter Five.
The Vicar’s Soup.
“He’s a strange good man,” said Mrs Slee, grimly, as she watched the vicar down the path; “and he must hev a vast o’ money, giving away as he is raight and left. Well, I won’t hev him cheated if I can help it, for the more he gives the more he may. Who’s yon at the back?”
The last remark was jerked out as a soft tap was heard at the kitchen door, and on going to answer it, there stood Sim Slee.
“Well?”
“Well?”
“Didn’t I tell thee as thou needn’t come here?” said Mrs Slee. “I thowt you wouldn’t darken parson’s door again.”
“What’s that as smells?” said Sim, giving a sniff.
“Soup for them as you and your strike folk have left to pine to dead,” snapped Mrs Slee.