"I shall never come again," she said loftily, "and my reason for not coming is that--that my mamma thinks your house is not respectable!" She flung this over her shoulder as she stalked away, and it may be that the tears came when there were none to see them, but hers was a resolute mind, and though she continued to be friendly with Tommy and Elspeth out of doors she never again crossed their threshold.
"The house is in a terrible state for want o' you," Tommy would say, trying to wheedle her.

"We hinna sanded the floor for months, and the box-iron has fallen ahint the dresser, and my gray sark is rove up the back, and oh, you should just see the holes in Aaron's stockings!" Then Grizel rocked her arms in agony, but no, she would not go in..