"It is well I'm at ironing today," said
Mrs. Brent, "for so I hev a good fire. Come your ways in, ma'am, and sit
on the hearth. Let me make you a cup o' tea."
"My friend will be here in a few minutes," Jane answered. "She only
wants to make a bargain with Mr. Brent for all his milk."
"Then she won't be back in a few minutes; Sam Brent does no business in
a hurry. It's against his principles. You bed better hev a cup o' hot
tea."
It seemed easier to Jane to agree than to dispute, and as the kettle was
simmering on the hob it was ready in five minutes. "You see," continued
Mrs. Brent, "I hev a big family, and washing and ironing does come a bit
hard on me now, but a cup o' tea livens me up, it does that!"
"How many children have you, Mrs. Brent?"
"I hev been married seventeen years, and I hev ten lads and lasses--all
of them fair and good and world-like. God bless them!"
"Ten! Ten! How do you manage?"
"Varry well indeed. Sam Brent is a forelooking man. They hev a good
father, and I try to keep step with him.
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