"Nay, they took good care o' that. Owd Radcliffe has him safe enough, an' he'll noan let him slip aat o' his clutches till he's kept his bargain an' put th' noose round George's neck. He's to be ta'en, they say, to Chester, an' kept theer till th' York 'sizes. They'll noan gi' th' Luds a chance o' stoppin' his mouth wi' an ounce o' lead, worse luck. For awm noan so sure aw wouldn't ha' a try at him misen." "And what had his mother to say?" "Oh! lots. A cunning, contrary bitch, that aw sud say so! There's no wonder Ben Walker wer' what he wer' wi' a dam like yon, whinin' an' quotin' th' Scriptures, enough to mak a man turn atheist." "But what did she say?" "Oh! I cannot burden mi mind wi' all 'oo said, about it bein' th' Lord's will, an' submission to th' ways of th' A'mighty, reg'lar blasphemy aw call it, callin' in religion to cover up a piece o' as damned rascality as ever wer' done by man. But there's something aw munnot forget. It concerns thee, Mary." "Me! what can she have to say to me." "That's what aw wanted to get at. But 'oo'd noan send any word bi me. She particler wanted to know if ther' wer' owt 'atween yo' an' Ben here." Mary flushed and tossed her head. "The impudence o' some folk," she said. "Aw axed her what business that wer' o hers' an' towd her aw thowt 'oo'd best turn her thowts to prayin' for that scamp o' a son o' hers. But 'oo stuck to her guns. 'Oo wants to see thee, Mary." "'Oo may want," said Mary. "Well it's for yo' to judge. She made out it mut be waur for Ben here if tha didn't go." "Mary 'll noan go near such like wi' my consent," I cried. "Whativver can th' woman want?" mused Mary. "Aw've a good mind.... Ben Walker's away to Chester yo' say? For good an' all?" "Aye, they'll keep him fast enough yo' may rest content." "I've a good mind...," continued Mary. "Waur for our Ben, did she say? I'll go." "Yo'll do nowt o' th' sort!" I said. "An' since when wer' yo' mi mester, cousin Ben?" she asked. "I'st go and aunt 'll mebbe go wi' me." "Not an inch," snapped my mother, who had left Faith in a great measure composed "Aw'd be poisoned if aw' breathed th' same air." "Then aw'st go by misen. Yo' can see me to th' Brigg, Ben, if tha likes. But I'll hear what 'oo has to say. She cannot harm me, an I'st happen get to know something that may help us." "Mary's right," said Soldier. "My word, Ben, thee's getten thi mester," he whispered to me on the sly.