'You may well say that, Mistress Janet.'
'The best seem to go the soonest,' Mistress Janet went on. 'There's a many will grieve for her that's been taken.'
'That's true. Everybody loved her, poor dear. My master takes on wonderful, just as though it ha' been a daughter of his own. He'll have every respect paid same as if she'd been really ours. And such a stone, Mistress Janet, as my master is going to raise to her!'
'Is he indeed? well, sure!'
'He thinks it'll be a comfort like to the dear child some day.'
'Ah! he little knows what he has lost,' said Mistress Janet, looking at me as I sat wearily on the floor with my arm round the big dog's neck.
'Poor little dear!' and Dame Foster gave her deepest sigh.
'What is the poor widower to do, ma'am, left with that young child?'
'Ah! what indeed?'
'They say he's a hard man, strange and close. I hope he'll use the boy well.'