People came to their cottage doors and looked curiously at the trio,
as they went slowly toward the hall, the preacher between the girls,
and talking earnestly to them.
"Well I nivver!" said old Peggy Howarth, nodding her head wisely,
"what does ta think o' that, Jane Sykes?"
"It beats ivery thing! There's Ezra Dixon. He's on his way to a
class-meeting, I'll lay thee owt ta likes; Ezra!"
"Well, woman! What does ta want?"
"Does ta see Miss Hallam and that American lass wi' t' preacher?"
"For sure I do. They're in varry good company."
"They'll hev been at Martha Cravens, depend on't. They say Martha taks
it varry quiet like."
"Ay, she's none o' them as whimpers and whines. Now if it wer' thee,
Peggy, thou'd worrit, and better worrit; as if worritting wer' thy
trade, and thou hed to work at it for thy victuals. Martha's none like
that. Is ta going to thy class to-night?"
"Nay, then, I'm not going."
"I'd go if I was thee, Peggy. Thou'lt hev thysen to talk about there,
and thou'lt not be tempted to say things about t' Cravens thou wont
be able to stand up to."
"I'd hev some human nature in me, Ezra Dixon, if I was thee. To think
o' this being t' first murder as iver was i' Hallam! and thou talking
as if I ought to buckle up my tongue about it."
"Thou ought; but 'oughts' stand for nothing.
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