"Eah! but tha arn't a woman, an if tha wor tha'd wish thisen a man
agean, varry sharply. But if aw wor a man awd set a different example to
what tha does. Aw wonder sometimes what thar't thinkin on, if tha ivver
does think, which awm inclined to daat, unless its thinkin ha tha can
contrive to be awkard an aggravatin."

"Well, but as aw wor gooin to say, If aw wor a----"

"Aw dooant want to hear owt tha has to say abaat it. A fine woman tha'd
mak! But aw wish tha wor foorced to swap places wi me for a wick. Aw
should like to see ha tha'd fancy gettin up befoor dayleet ov a Mondy
mornin an start o' sich a weshin o' clooas as aw have to face ivvery
wick; to say nowt abaat starchin an manglin an ironin. An then to start
an brew a barrel o' ale for other fowk to sup; an then to bake for sich
a family as we've getten,--nivver to mention makkin th' beds an cleanin
th' hearthstun,--an' th' meals to get ready, an then to cleean th' haase
throo top to bottom ivvery wick,--an darn th' stockins an put a claat on
here an a patch on thear, an fifty moor things beside,--an nivver get a
word o' thanks for it. Aw just wish tha wor a woman for an odd wick. Aw
do, truly."

"As aw sed befoor, If aw wor a----"

"Awm capt tha hasn't moor sense nor to keep tawkin sich foolishness. Tha
knows tha arn't a woman an tha nivver can be,--moor's pity. But if aw
wor a man awd awther tawk sense or keep mi maath shut. Aw think
sometimes 'at summat 'll happen to thi as a judgment for bein sich an
ungrateful tyke as tha art. Tha gets up in a mornin an finds thi
braikfast ready, an if ther's owt i'th haase at's nice an tasty tha gets
it; an then tha walks aght to what tha calls thi wark, an comes to thi
dinner, an off agean wol drinkin time, an after that tha awther gooas an
caars i' some Jerryhoil, or else tha sits rockin thisen i'th front o'th
fair, smokin thi bacca an enjoyin thisen wol bedtime. Ther's some fowk
dooant know when they're weel done to. But aw know who it is 'at has to
tew an slave all th' day, wi hardly a chonce to wipe th' sweeat off mi
face."

"But, if tha'll lissen, aw wor gooin to remark, If aw wor----"

"Tha maks a deeal too monny remarks. Tha'll sit thear, remarkin an
praichin bi th' haar together, an nivver give me a chonce to get in a
word edgeways. But awm just sick an stall'd o' harkenin to thi. They wor
a time, years sin nah,--but aw can remember it tho' tha's forgetten
it,--when tha used to sit an lissen to owt aw ha