'
Amy affected to pay no attention. She kept swallowing morsels, with
ugly movements of her lips and jaws.
'How often have I to tell you all that if it wasn't for Sidney
Kirkwood you'd have been workhouse children? As sure as you're
livin', you'd all of you have gone to the workhouse! And you go on
just as if you didn't owe thanks to nobody. I tell you it'll be
years and years before one of you'll have a penny you can call your
own. If it was Annie or Tom behaved so careless, there'd be less
wonder; but for a girl of your age--I'm ashamed as you belong to
me! You can't even keep your tongue from bein' impudent to Clara,
her as you ain't worthy to be a servant to!'
'Clara's a sneak,' observed Tom, with much coolness. 'She's always
telling lies about us.'
'I'll half-knock your young head off your shoulders,' cried his
father, furiously, 'if you talk to me like that! Not one of you's
fit to live in the same house with her.'
'Father, I haven't done nothing,' whimpered Annie, hurt by being
thus included in his reprobation.
'No more you have--not just now, but you're often enough more
trouble to your sister than you need be.
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