It's not for you now." "Don't you hear that there's nothing for you ?" again cried the prophet, in an angry voice; "yet you'll be botherin' us!" "Indeed, we haven't it, good woman," repeated Nelly; "so take your answer." "Don't you know that's a lie ?" said Sarah, addressing her step-mother.
"You have it, if you wish to give it." "What's a lie ?" said her father, starting, for he had again relapsed into his moodiness.

"What's a lie ?--who--who's a liar ?" "You are!" she replied, looking him coolly and contemptuously in the face; "you tell the poor woman that there's nothing for her.

Don't you know that's a lie?
It may be very well to tell a lie to them that can bear it--to a rich bodagh, or his proud lady of a wife--although it's a mean thing even to them; but to tell a lie to that heartbroken woman and her poor childhre--her childhre--aren't they her own ?--an' who would spake for them if she wouldn't.

If every one treated the poor that way, what would become of them?
Ay, to look in her face, where there's want an' hunger, and answer distress wid a lie--it's cruel--cruel!" "What a kind-hearted creature she is," said her step-mother, looking towards her father--"isn't she ?" "Come here, poor woman," said Sarah, calling her back; "it is for you.

If these two choose to let you and your childhre die or starve, I won't;" and she went to the meal to serve them as she spoke.
The woman returned, and looked with considerable surprise at her; but Nelly went also to the meal, and was about to interpose, when Sarah's frame became excited, and her eyes flashed, as they always did when in a state of passion.
"If you're wise, don't prevent me," she said.