The listening group displayed no emotion at this avowal. They eyed the girl attentively, as if expecting to hear more. But Inez, having vented her spite, now sulked.
“Where she came from?” asked Miguel, the recognized spokesman.
“Back there. New York,” tossing her head in an easterly direction.
“Why she come?” continued the old man.
“The little mans with no hair—Meest Merrick—he think I not know about babies. He think this girl who learns babies in school, an’ from books, know more than me who has care for many baby—but for none like our Mees Jane. Mees Jane ees angel!”
They all nodded in unison, approving her assertion.
“Eet ees not bad thought, that,” remarked old Bella. “Books an’ schools ees good to teach wisdom.”
“Pah! Not for babies,” objected her husband, shaking his head. “Book an’ school can not grow orange, either. To do a thing many time ees to know it better than a book can know.”
“Besides,” said Inez, “this Meeldred ees witch-woman.”
“Yes?”