'Little over a week since I left here, by George; and to me it's half the
almanac like; can ye guess the reason, Maud?'
'Have you seen your sister, Milly, or your father, since your return?' I
asked coldly.
'_They'll_ keep, Maud, never mind 'em; it be you I want to see--it be you
I wor thinkin' on a' the time. I tell ye, lass, I'm all'ays a thinkin' on
ye.'
'I think you ought to go and see your father; you have been away, you say,
some time. I don't think it is respectful,' I said, a little sharply.
'If ye bid me go I'd a'most go, but I could na quite; there's nout on earth
I would na do for you, Maud, excep' leaving you.'
'And that,' I said, with a petulant flush, 'is the only thing on earth I
would ask you to do.'
'Blessed if you baint a blushin', Maud,' he drawled, with an odious grin.
His stupidity was proof against everything.
'It is _too_ bad!' I muttered, with an indignant little pat of my foot and
mimic stamp.
'Well, you lasses be queer cattle; ye're angry wi' me now, cos ye think
I got into mischief--ye do, Maud; ye know't, ye buxsom little fool, down
there at Wolverhampton; and jest for that ye're ready to turn me off again
the minute I come back; 'tisn't fair.
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