She saw herself, as the preacher, sitting on her stool beside the poor grate--she realised as a spectator the figures of the women and the old man played on by the firelight--the white, bare, damp-stained walls of the cottage, and in the background the fragile though still comely form of Minta Hurd, who was standing with her back to the dresser, and her head bent forward, listening to the talk while her fingers twisted the straw she plaited eternally from morning till night, for a wage of about 1s.3d.a week: Her mind was all aflame with excitement and defiance--defiance of her father, Lord Maxwell, Aldous Raeburn.

Let him come, her friend, and see for himself what she thought it right to do and say in this miserable village.

Her soul challenged him, longed to provoke him! Well, she was soon to meet him, and in a new and more significant relation and environment.

The fact made her perception of the whole situation the more rich and vibrant.
Patton, while these broken thoughts and sensations were coursing through Marcella's head, was slowly revolving what she had been saying, and the others were waiting for him.
At last he rolled his tongue round his dry lips and delivered himself by a final effort.
"Them as likes, miss, may believe as how things are going to happen that way, but yer won't ketch me! Them as have got 'ull _keep_"-- he let his stick sharply down on the floor--"an' them as 'aven't got 'ull 'ave to go without and _lump it_--as long as you're alive, miss, you mark my words!" "Oh, Lor', you wor allus one for makin' a poor mouth, Patton!" said Mrs.
Jellison.

She had been sitting with her arms folded across her chest, part absent, part amused, part malicious.