So giving Jennings a sharp nudge (for he'd fallen asleep), I
says, 'Missis, what's to pay?' pulling out my money wi' a jingle
that she might na guess we were at all bare o' cash. So she looks
at her husband, who said ne'er a word, but were listening with all
his ears nevertheless; and when she saw he would na say, she said,
hesitating, as if pulled two ways, by her fear o' him, 'Should you
think sixpence over much?' It were so different to public-house
reckoning, for we'd eaten a main deal afore the chap came down. So
says I, 'And, missis, what should we gi' you for the babby's bread
and milk?' (I had it once in my mind to say 'and for a' your
trouble with it,' but my heart would na let me say it, for I could
read in her ways how it had been a work o' love). So says she,
quite quick, and stealing a look at her husband's back, as looked
all ear, if ever a back did, 'Oh, we could take nought for the
little babby's food, if it had eaten twice as much, bless it.' Wi'
that he looked at her; such a scowling look! She knew what he
meant, and stepped softly across the floor to him, and put her hand
on his arm.
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