pin' fowk sich as ther
is abaght here, noabody con get to do owt. Be hanged, if th' fire isn't
aght! an' aw expect it'll tak' me as long ageean to leet it, coss a'wm
in a hurry. There's niver nowt done reight when a body's in a fullock.
Aw wish ther tea drinkins wor far enuff. Aw'd rayther sail across th'
salt seea nor be put i' sich a mooild as this. Yond's th' bell! An'
they'll be here in a minnit! A'a dear! A woman's wark is niver done!"

"Aw think it niver is done, bi'th luk on it!" said Dick, as he stept
into th' haase. "Ha' is it thers noa dinner ready? It's as ill as th'
weshin' day, or else war!"

"Dinner! tha may weel ax abaght th' dinner," said Zantippa, "doesn't ta
see 'at th' place is ful o' reik? Aw dooan't know what tha means to do,
but if we connot have that chimley altered aw know one 'ats baan to
flit."

"Why, aw niver knew it smook'd afoor; but this fire's nobbut just lit."

"What's ta been dooin' baght fire?"

"Fire? does ta want me to be smoord? It's grand for yo' 'at con walk
aght to yo're wark as sooin as yo' get up, an' just come in to yo're
meals an' aght ageean, but yo' niver think o' what's to come o' me 'ats
ta tew amang it throo morn ta neet."

"Why lass, ha' is it 'at it niver smooks ov a Sunday?"

"Ha con I tell? tha mun ax it! Can't one o' yo' childer get th' bellus
an' blow a bit, or are yo' baan to stand thear wi' yo're fingers i'
yo're maath woll aw fair drop? But it'll nut allus be soa, yo'll get me
ligg'd low some day, an' then yo'll have ta shift for yoursen."

After a gooid deal o' botherin' an' grummelin', an' a varry deal o'
wangin' th' cubbord doors, an' clatterin' th' pots abaght, Zantippa
managed to mak' a sup o' coffee an' butter a bit o' bread. Dick didn't
like this, but as he saw his wife wor th' wrang side aght, he thowt, for
th' sake o' peace, he'd say nowt; soa he swallow'd his coffee an' cake
(if nut wi' thankfulness, at least i' quietness), an' then him an' th'
childer budged off.

"Thear!" said Zantippa, as shoo watched 'em aght o'th seet, "Aw've
managed that varry weel. Aw wod'nt ha' let him know for all th' brass
i'th bank 'at aw'd been talkin' woll aw'd letten th' fire goa aght. Aw
do hooap 'at ther'll nut a wick soul come an' bother me agean to-day,
for aw've niver had time to tak' th' cowks up yet, an' aw've all th'
stockins ta mend' at should ha' been done last wick, an' aw know Dick
hasn't a button left on his halliday shirt, it's time somdy stirred
t