Prudence is his sister, to be sure, and it is to do her a kindness; but Jacob wants a useful wife--and, as I understood, they were resolved not to delay the marriage beyond Christmas.

Rachel has been six months wed, and the house wants a mistress who can move about and look to things." Martin was looking very thoughtful.

He did not reply for a while, and then he said slowly: "Send the child to me, Susan; I will speak to her of this myself." "Ay, thou hadst best do so, for I might as well speak to the walls as to Keren Happuch," said Mistress Susan as she went on her way up the stairs, by no means pleased at the easy fashion in which her brother took this matter.
Susan loved a grand fuss and talk and discussion over every trifle in the day's round, and this was more than a trifle.

Her tongue was as active as her hands, and she would talk by the hour as she worked, until those about her grew weary of the very sound of her voice.
Martin Holt, who was fully alive to his sister's many virtues and valuable qualities, did find her something of a trial also, and it never struck him as at all inexplicable that the self willed and impetuous little Cherry should often be at loggerheads with her aunt.
As she stole down the staircase and stood before him with a wondering, questioning look in her big eyes, he eyed her keenly, and could not but see that some of the bloom had faded from her cheeks, and that she had in some way changed during the past months.
"Cherry," he said, taking her small hand in his and speaking in an unwontedly gentle way, "has thy aunt told thee wherefore I want thee ?" "No, father; she said that thou wouldst tell me." "And so I will; but tell me first if there is aught amiss with thee.

I have missed thy laugh of late, and thou hast lost some of thy roses.