I know what the lads
are; for I've had four- four I've had, God knows- and if you was to
take and tie 'em up, they'd make a fighting and a crying as if you was
ringing pigs. But I'll bring you my little chair, and some bits o' red
rag and things for her to play wi'; an' she'll sit and chatter to
'em as if they was alive. Eh, if it wasn't a sin to the lads to wish
'em made different, bless 'em, I should ha' been glad for one of 'em
to be a little gell; and to think as I could ha' taught her to
scour, and mend, and the knitting, and everything. But I can teach 'em
this little un, Master Marner, when she gets old enough.'
'But she'll be my little un,' said Marner, rather hastily.
'She'll be nobody else's.'
'No, to be sure; you'll have a right to her if you're a father to
her, and bring her up according. But,' added Dolly, coming to a
point which she had determined beforehand to touch upon, 'you must
bring her up like christened folks's children, and take her to church,
and let her learn her catechize, as my little Aaron can say off- the
"I believe", and everything, and "hurt nobody by word or deed",- as
well as if he was the clerk. That's what you must do, Master Marner,
if you'd do the right thing by the orphin child.'
Marner's pale face flushed suddenly under a new anxiety. His mind
was too busy trying to give some definite bearing to Dolly's words for
him to think of answering her.
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