r if it wasn't the men as had putt en there.
Menfolk are like children--they'm a pack of worry, but the women can't
get along happy wethout en."

"Well, at least I haven't any children, Mother Penticost," said Judy,
laughing.

"Aren't married, are you, my dear? Mr. Ruan ded say 'Miss Parminter' to
I when he came about the rooms."

"No, I'm not married."

"And why's that?" demanded the direct Mrs. Penticost. "Not because they
haven't asked 'ee, I'll lay. Couldn't 'ee fancy none of en, my dear
sawl?"

"Not enough for that, apparently."

"I used to think you and that Killigrew weth his red head and his free
tongue would make a match of it, but I suppose it was not to be....
Never mind, my dear. We never goes to church weth the first one as takes
our fancy."

"Oh, I shall never marry!" declared Judith lightly. "By the way, I hear
Mr. Ruan has a beautiful boy, Mrs. Penticost."

"Aw, dear sawl, so he have. Best thing that flighty little faggot to the
mill ever ded was to make that babe. Children's a deal of trouble,
though, so they are. Some has boys and wants maids, and some has only
maids and provokes the Lard to send en boys, as though there weren't
enough men in the world. No pleasing some folks."

"They're a trouble that's well worth while, anyway. Children, I mean,"
said Judith.

"Ah! so some of us says as hasn't got en. We can all stand any joys that
come along, but we'd all like to have the choosen' of our troubles,"
replied Mrs. Penticost non-committally.

"I certainly think children must be the nicest troubles one can choose,"
remarked Judith.

"There's many a poor maid that's thought otherwise," responded Mrs.
Penticost.

"Oh, well, I didn't mean that way ... that's a trouble for the children
too when they grow up ... worse than for the mother. That's why it's
wicked to have them like that. I meant if one were married."

"It's not all honey then, my dear. Look at Jenny Trewen down to the
church-town. She'm never had naught but boys, and she sticks every
virtue on that maid she always wanted and that never came. 'Twould have
been just the same if it had been the other way on, if you see what I do
mane. 'Tes the babes as never are born that lie nearest to a mother's
heart...."

"What a terrible theory!" broke in Georgie, swinging her legs as she
sat perched upon the corner of the table. "And according to the same
theory, are the men one never meets the nicest, and the picture one
never paints th