I've said it times, and I'll say it again.

What are you lookin' at me for, Betsy Brunt ?" And Mrs.Jellison drew up suddenly with a fierce glance at Mrs.Brunt.
"Why, Mrs.Jellison, I niver meant no offence," said Mrs.Brunt, hastily.
"I won't stand no insinooating," said Mrs.Jellison, with energy.

"If you've got soomthink agen me, you may out wi' 't an' niver mind the young lady." But Mrs.Brunt, much flurried, retreated amid a shower of excuses, pursued by her enemy, who was soon worrying the whole little company, as a dog worries a flock of sheep, snapping here and teasing there, chattering at the top of her voice in broad dialect, as she got more and more excited, and quite as ready to break her wit on Marcella as on anybody else.

As for the others, most of them had known little else for weeks than alternations of toil and sickness; they were as much amused and excited to-night by Mrs.Jellison's audacities as a Londoner is by his favourite low comedian at his favourite music-hall.

They played chorus to her, laughed, baited her; even old Patton was drawn against his will into a caustic sociability.
Marcella meanwhile sat on her stool, her chin upon her hand, and her full glowing eyes turned upon the little spectacle, absorbing it all with a covetous curiosity.
The light-heartedness, the power of enjoyment left in these old folk struck her dumb.