Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/123

118 say, "Thou holds thy head high this morning, Jonathan. What hes lifted thee up so?"

"I am a grandfather, Ben. Mistress Aske hes a fine son."

"I am right glad it's a boy."

"So am I. My word! Won't Aske be proud? And sure enough, there's Aske's church-bells ringing! They'll hev got the news, too. Poor little chap, to be born in France, of all places in t' world!"

"Ay, it's a pity. Aske won't like it, thou may be sure o' that. Some women, nay, I may well say all women, are so contrary."

"If there was an earthquake, thou would blame women for it, Ben. It sounds spiteful in thee. Thou hed a right good mother, and two good sisters, I'm sure."

"Ay, I hed, but their kind aren't common."

"Be quiet, will ta? They are common enough. Don't thee set thysen up to think thou hed t' only good mother and sisters. Other men hev been just as lucky as thou wert. There's good women in ivery family, and if there's a bad one, like as not she's a good one that hes been spoiled by some bad man's mismanagement. I'll hev to be an out-and-out