Maggie. [Beginning to cry loudly.] I be the only girl as have stopped with you more nor a month, I be. T’others wouldn’t bide a day, some of them.
Emily. Be quiet. Back to your work with you. And when the hay is all carried, off with you, ungrateful minx, to where you came from.
Jessie. O let us keep her always, Mother, she’s kind.
Robin. Don’t you cry, Mag. I’ll marry you when I’m a big man like Daddy.
Thomas. Harken to them, Emily! She’s been a good maid to the children. I’d not part with any one so hasty, if ’twas me.
Emily. [Very angrily.] When I want your opinion, Thomas, I’ll ask for it. Suppose you was to go out and see after something which you do understand.
Thomas. O I’ll go down to the field fast enough, I can tell you. ’Twas only being hungered as drove me into the hornets’ nest, as you might say.
Emily. [Ironing fiercely.] What’s that?
Thomas. Nothing. I did only say as I was a-going back to the field when George do come home.
Emily. There again. Did you ever know the man to be so slow before. I warrant as he have gone drinking or mischiefing down at the Spotted Cow instead of coming straight home with they chicken.