“Let them watch us, Oliver. We do nothing that we need be ashamed of. The whole world is welcome to know how we live,—all we do, from year’s end to year’s end.”
“Yes, if they would let us alone, father. But it is so hard to have our things broken and spoiled!”
“So it is; and to know what ill-natured talk is going on about us. But we must let them take their own way, and bear it as well as we can; for there is no help for it.”
“I wish I were a justice!” cried Mildred. “How I would punish them, every one!”
“Then I wish you were a justice, my dear; for we cannot get anybody punished as it is.”
“Mildred,” said Oliver, “I wish you would finish the cabbages. You know they must be done; and I am very busy.”
“Oh, Oliver! I am such a little thing to plant a whole cabbage bed. You will be able to come by and by; I want to help you.”
“You cannot help me, dear: and you know how to do the cabbages as well as anybody. You really cannot help me.”
“Well, I want to see you then.”
“There is nothing to see yet. You will have done, if you make haste, before I begin to cut. Do, dear!”