e (for shoo's nowt else who shoo is), whativver mun come
on him."

"Eea, an whativer mun come o' awr Harriet Ann? Did ta put owt into th'
teah-pot, Nanny?"

"Aw filled it nobbut a minnit sin, an if it's empty tha must ha supt
it."

"Nay, awve nobbut tasted abaat twice. Happen it runs."

"Awm sure it runs, but it's aght oth spaat. Put it aght oth seet. Ther's
awr Alick comin' up th' gate, an yor Harriet Ann follerin' him. It's
reight fair wearisome. If a body gets set daan for a bit ov a talk
ther's sure somebdy to come. What's browt yo two here at this time aw
should like to know?" "Whear's ta left thi fayther, Alick?"

"He's gooan to luk at some pigs aw believe. He said he'd be hooam i'
gooid time, an yo hadn't to get him onny drinkin' ready, for he'd have
some o' that cold broth."

"Then he's baan drinkin'! Aw know as weel as can be, for he allus taks
some wrang-heeaded noation when he's baan to get a bellyful o' ale. A'a!
It caps me what fowk can see i' gooin an makkin a swill tub o' ther
guts! If aw mud ha my mind ther shouldn't be a drop for onybody unless
they wor poorly! But whear's ta been, Harriet Ann? Aw thowt tha wor at
thi wark?"

"Shoo wod ha been but for me," sed Alick; "but aw chonced to meet her,
an as we'd a bit o' bizness we gate that done, an then we went on to
Jenny's, but th' door wor lockt, soa aw sed varry likely shoo'd be up
here, an it seems aw wor abaat reight, an aw persuaded Harriet Ann to
come up wi me, for it isn't fit weather for noa Christian to be aght
in."

"Come on an sit thee daan, Alick. Awm sooary to hear sich a bad accaant
on thee, but tha art better nor awr Harriet Ann, for shoo knows awm
behund wi mi rent, an shoo couldn't do but waste another day."

"Dooant yo bother yersen, Jenny, we've just com'd to keep yo company a
bit. Aw say, mother! dooant yo think yo've a drop o' summat short, 'at
yo could mak Harriet Ann a sup to keep her throo catchin' cowld?"

"Tha knows ther's nowt 'short' i' this haase nobbut a drop o' gin 'at's
kept o' purpose for thi fayther when he's th' backwark, but as it's
Harriet Ann awl mak her a little drop."

"A'a, aw cannot sup all that, Nanny, aw nobbut want a tooithful," sed
Harriet.

"Ther's happen somdy else wants th' cold keepin' aght as weel as thee,"
sed Jenny.

"Awve been hearin' some sad tales abaat thee Harriet Ann," sed Nanny.
"Awve allus thowt as mich o' thee as if tha wor one o' mi own, an' thi
mother's been tellin' me abaat