He turned his horse, and rode slowly back, giving vent to the climax of feeling which had determined this movement by saying aloud, as he struck his horse, "Poor little wench! she'll have nobody but Tom, belike, when I'm gone." Mr.Tulliver's return into the yard was descried by several young Mosses, who immediately ran in with the exciting news to their mother, so that Mrs.Moss was again on the door-step when her brother rode up.
She had been crying, but was rocking baby to sleep in her arms now, and made no ostentatious show of sorrow as her brother looked at her, but merely said: "The father's gone to the field, again, if you want him, brother." "No, Gritty, no," said Mr.Tulliver, in a gentle tone.

"Don't you fret,--that's all,--I'll make a shift without the money a bit, only you must be as clever and contriving as you can." Mrs.Moss's tears came again at this unexpected kindness, and she could say nothing.
"Come, come!--the little wench shall come and see you.

I'll bring her and Tom some day before he goes to school.

You mustn't fret.

I'll allays be a good brother to you." "Thank you for that word, brother," said Mrs.Moss, drying her tears; then turning to Lizzy, she said, "Run now, and fetch the colored egg for cousin Maggie." Lizzy ran in, and quickly reappeared with a small paper parcel.
"It's boiled hard, brother, and colored with thrums, very pretty; it was done o' purpose for Maggie.