“Aw, yes, where is she? Kate! Kate!” called Grannie, leaning her head toward the stairs, and Nancy Joe, who had been standing silent until now, said——
“Didn't she go to Ramsey with the gig, woman?”
“Aw, the foolish I am! Of course she did,” said Grannie; “but why hasn't she come back with father?”
“She left word at Crellin's not to wait,” said Cæsar.
“She'll be gone to Miss Clucas's to try on,” said Nancy.
“Wouldn't trust now,” said Grannie. “She's having two new dresses done, Pete. Aw, girls are ter'ble. Well, can you blame them either?”
“She shall have two-and-twenty if she likes, God bless her,” said Pete.
“Goodness me!” said Nancy, “is the man for buying frocks for a Mormon?”
“But you'll be empty, boy. Put the crow down and the griddle on, Nancy,” said Grannie. “We'll have cakes. Cakes? Coorse I said cakes. Get me the cloth and I'll lay it myself. The cloth, I'm saying, woman. Did you never hear of a tablecloth? Where is it? Aw, dear knows where it is now! It's in the parlour; no, it's in the chest on the landing; no, it's under the sheets of my own bed. Fetch it, bogh.”
“Will I bring you a handful of gorse, mother?” said Cæsar.