Thee dost na' get good milk enow, that's what it is,--such stuff as Monkshaven folks put up wi'!' 'No, aunt; I'm quite well.

Only I'm a bit put out--vexed like at what I've heerd about Sylvie.' His aunt's face changed immediately.
'And whatten folk say of her, next thing ?' 'Oh,' said Philip, struck by the difference of look and manner in his aunt, and subdued by seeing how instantly she took alarm.

'It were only my uncle;--he should na' take a girl like her to a public.
She were wi' him at t' "Admiral's Head" upo' All Souls' Day--that were all.

There were many a one there beside,--it were statute fair; but such a one as our Sylvie ought not to be cheapened wi' t' rest.' 'And he took her there, did he ?' said Bell, in severe meditation.

'I had never no opinion o' th' wenches as 'll set theirselves to be hired for servants i' th' fair; they're a bad lot, as cannot find places for theirselves--'bout going and stannin' to be stared at by folk, and grinnin' wi' th' plough-lads when no one's looking; it's a bad look-out for t' missus as takes one o' these wenches for a servant; and dost ta mean to say as my Sylvie went and demeaned hersel' to dance and marlock wi' a' th' fair-folk at th' "Admiral's Head ?"' 'No, no, she did na' dance; she barely set foot i' th' room; but it were her own pride as saved her; uncle would niver ha' kept her from it, for he had fallen in wi' Hayley o' Seaburn and one or two others, and they were having a glass i' t' bar, and Mrs.Lawson, t' landlady, knew how there was them who would come and dance among parish 'prentices if need were, just to get a word or a look wi' Sylvie! So she tempts her in, saying that the room were all smartened and fine wi' flags; and there was them in the room as told me that they never were so startled as when they saw our Sylvie's face peeping in among all t' flustered maids and men, rough and red wi' weather and drink; and Jem Macbean, he said she were just like a bit o' apple-blossom among peonies; and some man, he didn't know who, went up and spoke to her; an' either at that, or at some o' t' words she heard--for they'd got a good way on afore that time--she went quite white and mad, as if fire were coming out of her eyes, and then she turned red and left the room, for all t' landlady tried to laugh it off and keep her in.' 'I'll be down to Monkshaven before I'm a day older, and tell Margaret Lawson some on my mind as she'll not forget in a hurry.' Bell moved as though she would put on her cloak and hood there and then.
'Nay, it's not in reason as a woman i' that line o' life shouldn't try to make her house agreeable,' said Philip.
'Not wi' my wench,' said Bell, in a determined voice.
Philip's information had made a deeper impression on his aunt than he intended.