Dost thee object to that, lass?
--if so, say so noo afore it's too late, but doon't thraw it in
moi face arterwards. Ef thou'st children they shalt go to school
too. Oi don't want to do more for Polly nor oi'd do for moi own."
"I ha' no objection, Luke. I remembers your sister, how pretty and
quiet she wor; and thou shalt do what you likest wi' Polly, wi'out
no grumble from me."
Eliza Marner kept the promise she had made before marriage
faithfully. If she ever felt in her heart any jealousy as she saw
Polly growing up a pretty bright little maiden, as different to
the usual child product of Varley as could well be, she was wise
enough never to express her thoughts, and behaved with motherly
kindness to her in the evening hours spent at home. She would
perhaps have felt the task a harder one had her own elder children
been girls; but three boys came first, and a girl was not born until
she had been married eleven years. Polly, who was now fourteen,
had just come home from her schooling at Marsden for good, and
was about to go out into service there. But after the birth of
her little girl Mrs. Marner, who had never for a Varley girl been
strong, faded rapidly away; and Polly's stay at home, intended at
first to last but a few weeks, until its mother was about again,
extended into months.
The failing woman reaped now the benefit of Polly's training.
Her gentle, quiet way, her soft voice, her neatness and tidiness,
made her an excellent nurse, and she devoted herself to cheer and
brighten the sickroom of the woman who had made so kind an adopted
mother to her.
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