Page:Live and Let Live.djvu/149

 little longer; wet-nurses are like cows, we only keep them for the milk they give," Adéle shrugged her shoulders. "But when they kick and hook, madame?" This precious colloquy was broken off by the entrance of the person in question. At sight of her the baby almost sprung from his mother's arms; Margery caught him in hers; and, pouring out a flood of tears, caressed him with the fondness characteristic of her people.

"God bless my darling!" she exclaimed; "and ye feel just the same, and six weeks it is that ye have not seen me." "One pretty while to stay away when one loves so furiously!" said Adéle, contemptuously.

Her words were like the spark that kindleth a great fire. "And was I not here the very day after I left ye?" asked Margery.

"Yes—you came for your wages."

"God forgive me, and so I did; but my mind was so full of my baby, that when they told me Mrs. Hartell said I must call next day, I thanked God, thinking then I should see the boy again. The milk was in my breasts yet, and pressed upon my heart like. But I should have been thinking of the money, for my own child's nurse was wanting her pay, and two miles from the village had I walked for it."

"But, Margery, I told you I would pay you the next day."

"Ah, but ye ladies never think we have not servants to send or carriages to ride in for our pay. The time is all we have. It's easy for you to say 'call again,' and 'call again,' and the time it takes