NELI. [Slyly.] Ask Deacon Roberts if cats steal eggs whatever?
HUGH. [Repeating.] If cats steal eggs, if cats steal eggs.
NELI. Aye, not if eggs steal cats.
HUGH. [Craning neck.] Yiss, yiss, if eggs steal cats!
NELI. Hugh—ie! Now ye'll never get it correct again! 'Tis if cats steal eggs.
HUGH. [Sulkily.] Well, I'm no carin' about cats with heaven starin' me in the face.
[Neli turns about swiftly with the quick, sudden motions characteristic of her, and Hugh shrinks into himself. She shakes her finger at him and goes over to kiss him.
NELI. Hughie, lad, ye're not to touch the book while I am gone to market.
HUGH. Nay, nay, certainly not!
NELI. And ye're to be on the lookout for Mrs. Jones the Wash, for Mrs. Jenkins the Midwife—Jane Elin has a new baby, an' it'll be needin' somethin'. [Pointing to counter.] Here is everythin' plainly marked. Ye're no to undersell or give away anythin.' D'ye hear?