It is contemptible.
I trust, Hester, he is not a particular friend of yours, for I shall feel it my duty to speak very strongly to him if he comes again." But Dick did not appear again.

He was off and away before the terrors of the Church could be brought to bear on him.
But his memory remained green at Warpington.
"They do say," said Abel to Hester a few days later, planting his spade on the ground, and slowly scraping off upon it the clay from his nailed boots, "as that Muster Vernon gave 'em a dusting in the school-yard as they won't forget in a hurry.

He said he could not speak out before the women folk, but he was noways nesh to pick his words onst he was outside.

Barnes said as his tongue 'ud 'ave raised blisters on a hedge stake.

But he had a way with him for all that.