"Wait till yo'n seen your gran-mother efore ye do owt, lad," said Elizabeth.
"Ay, wait," added a voice.
"What's that?" demanded Jem, laving down his knife and fork.
Elizabeth did not answer in words, but her significant looks were quite response enough for her son.
"Os ye win, mother," he said in an altered tone. After a pause, employed in eating, he added, "Did Mistress Nutter put onny questions to ye about Alizon?"
"More nor enough, lad," replied Elizabeth; "fo what had ey to tell her? She praised her beauty, an said how unlike she wur to Jennet an thee, lad—ha! ha!—An wondert how ey cum to ha such a dowter, an monny other things besoide. An what could ey say to it aw, except—"
"Except what, mother?" interrupted Jem.
"Except that she wur my child just os much os Jennet an thee!"
"Humph!" exclaimed Jem.
"Humph!" echoed the voice that had previously spoken.