I were troth-plighted wi' Kinraid the specksioneer, him as was cousin to th' Corneys o' Moss Brow, and comed back lieutenant i' t' navy last Tuesday three weeks, after ivery one had thought him dead and gone these three years.' She paused.
'Well ?' said Jeremiah, with interest; although his attention appeared to be divided between the mother's story and the eager playfulness of the baby on his knee.
'Philip knew he were alive; he'd seen him taken by t' press-gang, and Charley had sent a message to me by Philip.' Her white face was reddening, her eyes flashing at this point of her story.
'And he niver told me a word on it, not when he saw me like to break my heart in thinking as Kinraid were dead; he kept it a' to hissel'; and watched me cry, and niver said a word to comfort me wi' t' truth.

It would ha' been a great comfort, sir, only t' have had his message if I'd niver ha' been to see him again.

But Philip niver let on to any one, as I iver heared on, that he'd seen Charley that morning as t' press-gang took him.

Yo' know about feyther's death, and how friendless mother and me was left?
and so I married him; for he were a good friend to us then, and I were dazed like wi' sorrow, and could see naught else to do for mother.

He were allays very tender and good to her, for sure.' Again a long pause of silent recollection, broken by one or two deep sighs.
'If I go on, sir, now, I mun ask yo' to promise as yo'll niver tell.
I do so need some one to tell me what I ought to do, and I were led here, like, else I would ha' died wi' it all within my teeth.