Susan’s brow cleared somewhat, but she made a movement of her bony shoulders indicative of scorn.

“Cherry may go with all my heart, for she is idler and more useless than ever, and does naught from morning to night but sit at the window, watching the folks in the street, and turning from red to pale and pale to red as though she were a bride looking for the arrival of her bridegroom.  I have no patience with such ways.  I knew no good would come of always spoiling the child.  I can do naught with her now; she heeds not a word I say.  Ofttimes she does not even know that I am speaking to her.  She may go, and welcome! but I misdoubt me that Prudence will thank thee for the loan.  Much good and much service she will get out of Keren Happuch!”

Martin Holt looked thoughtfully at his sister.

“That is partly why I am glad the child should go.  I too have seen a change in her.  Methinks she is feeling the long hot summer in the city.  There be many that have told me that she is not looking as she should do.  This idleness shows something of indisposition, I take it.  Doubtless she will receive benefit from a change of air and occupation.  She loves to be in the open air, and at the Cross Way House there will be gardens and pleasaunces and orchards where she may perchance be suffered to wander at will.  Prudence will be kind to her, and I shall send her gladly.”

Susan again made her peculiar gesture, as much as to say that she washed her hands of responsibility in the matter.

“She is thy daughter—­do as thou wilt, Martin; but I warn thee that no good will come of it.  Going amongst ladies will make her think herself a finer lady than ever:  and now as it is she will scarce deign to soil her dainty hands with anything coarser than the making of light pastry.  Thou wilt spoil her for a city man’s wife; and I know not how Abraham Dyson will take it.  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.