Anything I say always makes her go the other way.

She wouldn't believe anything I said against him.

It would only make her stick to him all the more.
"Dost think," Bill suggested after another long pause, "that if we got up a sort of depitation--Luke Marner and four or five other steady chaps as knows him; yes, and Polly Powlett, she could do the talking--to go to her and tell her what a thundering dad un he is--dost think it would do any good ?" Even in his bitter grief Ned could hardly help smiling at the thought of such a deputation waiting upon his mother.
"No, it wouldn't do, Bill." Bill was silent again for some time.
"Dost want un killed, Maister Ned ?" he said in a low voice at last; "'cause if ye do oi would do it for ye.

Oi would lay down my life for ye willing, as thou knowst; and hanging ain't much, arter all.

They say 'tis soon over.