Mrs Jones shook her head and gave a little sigh, and then shook her head again before she addressed herself to speak--she had the appearance of one who has been offended, so apparently poor Jenny had not roused pity by her grief. Mrs Jones was a pretty young woman, neat, dark-haired, and grey-eyed, with a fresh complexion, and a dimple on her chin, but it is possible for these young, blooming wives to be severe when they have received affronts. At any rate she began and continued her tale with the manner of one who has sustained an injury. ‘I came to Mrs Salter,’ she said, ‘with the best intentions--_with the best intentions_,’ she added, emphatically; ‘but there’s some people as is that constituted as they can’t understand when one means to be kind to ’em. Jenny opened t’ door--she was in her working-dress, an’ all t’ cottage looked very neat an’ clean: she didn’t seem not a bit inclined to ask me in, but I said as I’d come to see her, an’, if she pleased, I’d take a seat. An’ I sat down there, an’ she sat down an’ sewed, an’ I spoke a bit o’ the weather an’ such like things; an’ then, all at once, as if it had come to me, I said, “So, Mrs Salter, your girl’s got back agen.” An’ she looked at me straight i’ the eyes before she said a word. An’ she said, “Yes, she is; she got back here last night.” An’ she said it that short, an’ that disagreeable like, as I said, “Good-morning,” an’ got up straight an’ went. For I think there’s no good i’ wasting pity o’ people as thinks ’emselves allays a deal too good for one.’ ‘Ah, Jenny’s a proud spirit,’ chimed in Mrs Robson, ‘an’ she’ll come to grief wi’ it, as I’ve allays thort. An’ she’ve brought up her lad an’ lass to cock their heads, as if they was better nor other boys an’ girls. They’re too good-lookin’, I’ve allays said it of ’em, it’s well if they doesn’t come to ruin wi’ it. An’ yet she’s an industrious woman, Mrs Salter, an’ keeps her cottage as a queen couldn’t do, but if she will give her chil’en all those notions, it isn’t a wonder if they break her heart. Well, good-day, Mrs Jones, I suppose ye must be goin’; they’re busy times for all on us, t’ mornin’ hours.’