To her surprise Reuben stopped in the road, and burst out laughing.
"Two boys!—not want two boys!—Why, we want ten boys! if I cud have twenty, I shudn't grumble."
"What nonsense you're talking, Backfield," said Naomi primly.
"I äun't talking nonsense, I'm talking sound sense. How am I to run the farm wudout boys? I want boys to help me work all that land. I'm going to have the whole of Boarzell, as I've told you a dunnamany times, and I'll want men wud me on it. So döan't you go talking o' girls. Wot use are girls?—none! They just spannel about, and then go off and get married."
"But a girl 'ud be useful in the house—she could help mother when she's older."
"No, thankee. However hard she works she äun't worth half a boy. You give me ten boys, missus, and then I döan't mind you having a girl or so to please yourself."
Naomi was disgusted. Reuben had once or twice offended her by his coarseness, but she could never get used to it.
"Oh, how can you speak to me so!" she gulped.
"Now, you silly liddle thing, wot are you crying for? Mayn't I have a joke?"