"You foolish women! Let him bide his turn then. The eldest first, I say. 'Tis quite in reason that Ned, with his fashion of mind, should take a wife. I've nought against that----" "You silly men!" she said. "Ned! Why, what sensible girl will look at such a Jack-o'-lantern as him--bless him! He's too fond of all the girls ever to take one. And if he don't throw them over, after a bit of keeping company, they throw him over. If you could but see yourself and him! 'Tis as good as play-acting! 'There's only one lazy man in the world that your husband forgives for being lazy,' said Jack Head to me but yesterday. 'And who might that be?' said I, well knowing. 'Why, Ned, of course,' he answers back." "I must talk to Jack's master. A lot too free of speech he's getting--just because they be going to let him perform the Bear at Christmas. But, when all's said, the wise man makes up his own mind; and that have been my habit from my youth up." "You think so," she answered. "I know so. And Rupert may go. He'll soon come back." "Never, master." "He'll come back, I tell you. He'll find the outer world very different from Cadworthy." "I wish you'd let that poor boy, Mark, be a lesson to you. Your love story ran suent, so you can't think what 'tis for a young thing to be crossed where the heart is set. It looks a small matter to us, as have forgotten the fret and fever, if we ever felt it, but to them 'tis life or death." "That's all moonshine and story-books. And my story ran suent along of my own patience and good sense--no other reason. And I may tell you that Mark have took the blow in a very sensible spirit. I saw my brother a bit ago--Nathan I mean. He was terrible cut up for both of 'em, being as soft as a woman where young people are concerned. But he'd had a long talk with Mark and found him perfectly patient and resigned about it." "The belving[1] cow soonest forgets her calf. 'Tis the quiet sort that don't make a row and call out their misfortunes in every ear, that feel the most. It's cut him to the heart and gone far to ruin his life--that's what it's done. You don't want to have your son in the same case?" [1] _Belving_--bellowing. "Rupert's very different to that. 'Tis his will against mine, and if he disobeys, he must stand the brunt and see what life be like without me behind him. When Nathan went for a sailor, I said nothing. They couldn't all bide here, and 'twas a manly calling. But Rupert was brought up to take my place, owing to Ned's superior brain power; and now if he's going to fling off about a girl and defy me--well, he may go; but they laugh best who laugh last. He'll suffer for it."