For four months Mrs. Gale had preserved an innocent face before her neighbors and she desired to preserve it to the last possible moment. And up to the last possible moment, even to her daughter, she was determined to ignore what had happened.
But she knew and Essy knew that she knew.
"Doan yo saay it, Assy. Doan yo saay it."
Essy said nothing.
"D'yo 'ear mae speaakin' to yo? Caann't yo aanswer? Is it thot, Assy?
Is it thot?"
"Yas, moother, yo knaw 'tis thot."
"An' yo dare to coom 'ear and tell mae! Yo dirty 'oossy! Toorn an' lat's 'ave a look at yo."
Now that the innocence of her face was gone, Mrs. Gale had a stern duty to perform by Essy.
"They've gien yo t' saack?"
"T' Vicar give it mae."