when it rains a bit, so as tha' wrap up warm."

Mary put on her coat and hat and took her skipping-rope
over her arm. She opened the door to
go out, and then suddenly thought of something
and turned back rather slowly.

"Martha," she said, "they were your wages.
It was your twopence really. Thank you." She
said it stiffly because she was not used to thanking
people or noticing that they did things for her.
"Thank you," she said, and held out her hand
because she did not know what else to do.

Martha gave her hand a clumsy little shake, as
if she was not accustomed to this sort of thing
either. Then she laughed.

"Eh! tha' art a queer, old-womanish thing,"
she said. "If tha'd been our 'Lizabeth Ellen
tha'd have give me a kiss."

Mary looked stiffer than ever.

"Do you want me to kiss you?"

Martha laughed again.

"Nay, not me," she answered. "If tha' was
different, p'raps tha'd want to thysel'. But tha'
isn't. Run off outside an' play with thy rope."

Mistress Mary felt a little awkward as she
went out of the room. Yorkshire people seemed
strange, and Martha was always rather a puzzle
to her. At first she had disliked her very much,
but now she did not.

[[92]]

p091 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p092w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p093

v?