“There’s some men kindness won’t cure,” he growled.
“That’s true,” his father replied, “but you never know who they are. You’ve got to go on trying, same as t’ doctors, and it’s capping what bad cases pull round sometimes, if you’ve a bit o’ patience. Now come, lad! you wouldn’t have me go to Inman and say, ‘I’ve been thinking t’ thing over, and we’re flayed if we bring you home you’ll nobbut get worse, and mebbe smittle someb’dy else into t’ bargain, so we’ve decided to leave you to t’ prison doctor?’ ”
With a hasty exclamation Baldwin pushed back his chair and went out of doors, and Hannah smiled.
“It was getting over warm for him i’ front o’ t’ fire,” she remarked caustically. “He’s pulling round very slow.”
“He’s none that bad,” said her grandmother, with a note of defiance in her voice.
“He’s none that good, neither,” returned Hannah. “It’ll take a deal o’ father’s honey to sweeten him to my taste.”
“Shut up, Hannah,” said her brother, who seemed relieved now that Baldwin was not present. “He’s making himself useful i’ t’ shop, and his temper’s improving. He’ll be going back to Keturah, let’s hope, when Inman’s out o’ t’ road. It’s him I’m bothered about. It’s all very well experimenting on t’ devil wi’ kindness, but what about Nancy? He’ll kill her!”
“I’ll go see t’ lass,” said his father, “and talk it over. She’d best go away while after t’ trial, happen.”
“You’ve no ’casion to bother,” returned his son; “I’ve seen her myself and she won’t budge. She’s as bad to move as you.”
“But as I’ve getten her into t’ mess I must try to get her out,” said Maniwel. “She’ll be blaming me, and no wonder; but I doubt if t’ lass ’ud have me go back o’ my word. I’ll step across.”