There was another silence. Then suddenly Reuben went to the door and opened it.
"There's no use you waiting and vrothering me—my mind's mäade up."
"Fäather, fur pity's säake——"
"Döan't talk nonsense. How can I sit here and see my land messed about by a fool, jest because he happens to have married my darter?—and agäunst my wish, too. I'm sorry fur you, Tilly, but you're still young enough to work. I'm eighty-five, and I äun't stopped working yet, so döan't go saying you're too old. Your gals can go out to service ... and this liddle chap here ..."
He stopped speaking, and stared at the lad, chin in hand.
"He can work too, I suppose?" said Tilly bitterly.
"I wur going to say as how I've täaken a liking to him. He looks a valiant liddle feller, and if you'll hand him over to me and have no more part nor lot in him, I'll see as he doesn't want."
Tilly gasped.
"I've left this farm to William," continued Reuben, "because I've naun else to leave it to that I can see. All my children have forsook me; but maybe this boy 'ud be better than they."