But Gregory was still silent. At this unwonted lack of discourse, Janet,
who generally contrived to bring his long tongue into exercise, was not
a little astonished. It needed no great wit, any time, to set him
a-grumbling; for neither kind word nor civil speech had he for kith or
kin, for man or maid.
Looking steadfastly towards him, she struck her dark broad fists upon
her hips, and, in a loud and contemptuous laugh, abruptly startled the
cynic from his studies. He eyed her with a grin of malice and vexation.
"Thou she-ape, I wonder what first ye'arn made for; the plague o' both
man and beast,--the worst plague that e'er Pharaoh waur punished wi'.
Screech on; I'll ha' my think out, spite o' thy caterwauling."
"Thou art a precious wonder, Master Crab. Squirt thy verjuice, when thou
art roasting, some other way. I wonder what man-ape thy mother watch'd
i' the breeding. She had been special fond o' children, I bethink me."
"And what knowest thou o' my dame's humours, thou curl-crop vixen?" said
Gregory, unwarily drawn forth again from his taciturnity. "How should
her inclinations be subject to thy knowledge?"
"She rear'd thee!" was the reply.
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