'I've seed 'n scores and scores o' times.' (Here we must note that by this expression Joyce meant 'any number of times.' She could not count above ten, the number of her fingers, and a score was her highest reckonable number, for that was the number of her fingers and toes.) 'You mean the sun as goes running everlasting after the moon; she be his wife, I reckon.'
'Why so?' asked Herring, with a smile.
'Becos her be always a trying to get out of his way.'
'Did your father ill-treat your mother?' he asked.
'In coorse he did, though I can't remember much about it. Her was his wife, and he had a right to.'
'Do you mean that he beat and kicked her, as he has beaten and kicked you?'
'Kicked!' echoed Joyce. 'Who ever sed as he kicked mother or I. It be gentlefolks and wrastlers as kick; us has nothing on our toes, and so us don't kick for fear of hurting 'em.'
'Does your father often beat you?'
'As he likes, but that don't matter now.'
'Why not?'