"
"That's a nice way to speak to your own father, what give you your
being," said Granger, in a puzzled, would-be indignant voice, for he
could not understand Bet's speaking of all her trouble and rage in the
past tense. "What's come to you, lass?" he continued. You was in a
rage--ain't you in a rage still?--the beat's gone for aye and aye, you
knows."
"No, I ain't in a rage now," said Bet. "It's over--seems as if there
was a spring day in my heart, and I ha' no room to be in a rage. You
meant it for bitter bad, father, but maybe 'twas God. I do think as
it must have been Him--He meant it all contrariwise, and just because
you sold my beat, as I were burning and mad with rage--I--I--never
mind that part--only I'm the happiest lass in the whole of Liverpool
to-day."
"You air," said Granger with a great oath. "It's like your impidence
to defy me more and more. What do you mean by words such as them, you
bad disobedient girl? Don't you know as there's a curse on them as
don't obey their parents?"
"No, father; there's no curse on a girl who won't go your way; and
though it ain't nothing to you, and I ain't nothing to you, yet I may
as well tell you that I give myself to Will Scarlett last night, and
I'm going to be his lawful wedded wife as soon as ever the law can tie
us up.
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