“‘I will,’ sais I, ‘father, and she shall teach me Gaelic in return.’
“‘Indeed you shan’t,’ sais mother; ‘you have got something better to do than larning her; and as for Gaelic I can’t bear it. It’s a horrid outlandish language, and of no earthly use whatever under the blessed sun. It’s worse than Indian.’
“‘Do, Sam,’ said father; ‘it’s an act of kindness, and she is an orphan, and besides, Gaelic may be of great use to you in life. I like Gaelic myself; we had some brave Jacobite Highland soldiers in our army in the war that did great service, but unfortunately nobody could understand them. And as for orphans, when I think how many fatherless children we made for the British—’
“‘You might have been better employed,’ said mother, but he didn’t hear her, and went right on.
“‘I have a kindly feelin’ towards them. She is a beautiful girl that.’
“‘If it warn’t for her carrotty hair and freckled face,’ said mother, looking at me, ‘she wouldn’t be so awful ugly after all, would she?’
“‘Yes, Sam,’ sais father, ‘teach her English for heaven’s sake; but mind, she must give you lessons in Gaelic. Languages is a great thing.’
“‘It’s great nonsense,’ said mother, raisin’ her voice.
“‘It’s my orders,’ said father, holding up his head and standing erect. ‘It’s my orders, marm, and they must be obeyed;’ and he walked out of the room as stiff as a ramrod, and as grand as a Turk.
“‘Sam,’ sais mother, when we was alone, ‘let the gall be; the less she talks the more she’ll work. Do you understand, my dear?’