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Lisbeth was going on, for she was not at all afraid of Seth, and usually poured into his ears all the querulousness which was repressed by her awe of Adam Seth had never in his life spoken a harsh word to his mother, and tientle But Seth, with an anxious look, had passed into the workshop and said, "Addy, how's this? What! Father's forgot the coffin?"
"Aye, lad, th' old tale; but I shall get it done," said Adalances at his brother "Why, what's the matter with thee? Thee't in trouble"
Seth's eyes were red, and there was a look of deep depression on his mild face
"Yes, Addy, but it's what must be borne, and can't be helped Why, thee'st never been to the school, then?"
"School? No, that screw can wait," said Adaain
"Let o to bed," said Seth
"No, lad, I'd rather go on, now I'm in harness Thee't help me to carry it to Brox'on when it's done I'll call thee up at sunrise Go and eat thy supper, and shut the door so as I mayn't hear Mother's talk"
Seth knew that Adam alwaysanything else So he turned, with rather a heavy heart, into the house-place
"Adam's niver touched a bit o' victual sin' home he's come," said Lisbeth "I reckon thee'st hed thy supper at some o' thy Methody folks"
"Nay, Mother," said Seth, "I've had no supper yet"
"Come, then," said Lisbeth, "but donna thee ate the taters, for Adam 'ull happen ate 'eravy But he's been so sore an' angered, he wouldn't ate 'em, for all I'd putten 'eo away again," she went on, whio some dawnin' afore I'm up, an' niver let ain when once he's gone An' I'd better niver ha' had a son, as is like no other body's son for the deftness an' th' handiness, an' so looked on by th' grit folks, an' tall an' upright like a poplar-tree, an' me to be parted frorieve thyself in vain," said Seth, in a soothing voice "Thee'st not half so good reason to think as Adao away as to think he'll stay with thee He ot excuse for being wrathful soo Think how he's stood by us all when it's been none so easy--paying his savings to freefor a soldier, an' turnin' his earnin's into wood for father, when he's got plenty o' uses for hisman like him 'ud ha' been married and settled before now He'll never turn round and knock down his oork, and forsake them as it's been the labour of his life to stand by"