"It's a very _evil_ world," he said, just as he would have said that two and two made four to a child who had dared to question that fact.

"Ye're too young to understand it now: ye must take my word for it." She made no sort of answer; she gave no sign of yielding; but, because she had made no answer, he, self-willed and opinionated man that he was, felt assured that she had no answer to give, and went on to talk as if that one point were settled.
"Ye can be happy here if ye will only think so.

If we seem hard on ye in the house about the meals and that, I'll try to be better tempered.

Ye haven't read all the books we have yet, but I'll get more the first chance if ye like.

Come, Sissy, think how lonesome I'd be without ye!" He moved his shoulders nervously while he spoke, as if the effort to coax was a greater strain than the effort to teach or command.