Hast got in another row with t' maister?
If there be owt as oi can do, thou knowest well as Bill Swinton be with thee heart and soul." "I know, Bill--I know," Ned said in a broken voice, "but you can do nothing; I can do nothing; no one can.

But it's dreadful to think of.
It's worse than if I had killed twenty masters.

Only think--only think, Bill, my mother's going to marry Mulready!" "Thou doesn't say so, lad! What! thy mother marry Foxey! Oi never heer'd o' such a thing.

Well, that be bad news, surely! Well, well, only to think, now! Poor lad! Well, that beats all!" The calamity appeared so great to Bill that for some time no idea occurred to him which could, under the circumstances, be considered as consolatory.

But Ned felt the sympathy conveyed in the strong grasp of his shoulder, and in the muttered "Well, well, now!" to which Bill gave vent at intervals.
"What bee'st going to do vor to stop it ?" he asked at last.
"What can I do, Bill?
She won't listen to me--she never does.