Don't I know?
I've seen mother snappy and awkward with him all breakfast time, tossing her head, and rattling the china, and declaring she was worn out with men that let all the good bargains pass them; perhaps making fun of us because we couldn't manage to get along without strikes.

She had no strikes with her hands, she'd like to see her women stand up and talk to her about shorter hours, and so on; and father would look at me sly-like, and as we walked to the mill together he'd laugh contentedly and say, 'Your mother was quite refreshing this morning, John Thomas.

She has keyed me up to a right pitch.

When Jonathan Arkroyd comes about that wool he sold us I'll be all ready for him.' So you see I'm not against a sharp temper.

I like women as Tennyson says English girls are, 'roses set round with little wilful thorns,' eh ?" Unusual as this conversation was, its general tone was assumed by Ethel in her confidential talk with Ruth the following day.