‘That’s a pretty ribbon in thy hair, Sylvia; I’d like to have one o’ t’ same pattern.  Feyther likes pickled walnuts stuck about t’ round o’ beef, Molly.’

‘I know what I’m about,’ replied Mrs. Brunton, with a toss of her married head.

Bessy resumed her inquiry.

‘Is there any more to be had wheere that come fra’, Sylvia?’

‘I don’t know,’ replied Sylvia.  ‘It come fra’ Foster’s, and yo’ can ask.’

‘What might it cost?’ said Betsy, fingering an end of it to test its quality.

‘I can’t tell,’ said Sylvia, ‘it were a present.’

‘Niver mak’ ado about t’ price,’ said Molly; ’I’ll gi’e thee enough on ’t to tie up thy hair, just like Sylvia’s.  Only thou hastn’t such wealth o’ curls as she has; it’ll niver look t’ same i’ thy straight locks.  And who might it be as give it thee, Sylvia?’ asked the unscrupulous, if good-natured Molly.

‘My cousin Philip, him as is shopman at Foster’s,’ said Sylvia, innocently.  But it was far too good an opportunity for the exercise of Molly’s kind of wit for her to pass over.

’Oh, oh! our cousin Philip, is it? and he’ll not be living so far away from your mother?  I’ve no need be a witch to put two and two together.  He’s a coming here to-night, isn’t he, Bessy?’

‘I wish yo’ wouldn’t talk so, Molly,’ said Sylvia; ’me and Philip is good enough friends, but we niver think on each other in that way; leastways, I don’t

’(Sweet butter! now that’s my mother’s old-fashioned way; as if folks must eat sweet butter now-a-days, because her mother did!) That way,’ continued Molly, in the manner that annoyed Sylvia so much, repeating her words as if for the purpose of laughing at them.  ‘"That way?” and pray what is t’ way yo’re speaking on?  I niver said nought about marrying, did I, that yo’ need look so red and shamefaced about yo’r cousin Philip?  But, as Brunton says, if t’ cap fits yo’, put it on.  I’m glad he’s comin’ to-night tho’, for as I’m done makin’ love and courtin’, it’s next best t’ watch other folks; an’ yo’r face, Sylvia, has letten me into a secret, as I’d some glimpses on afore I was wed.’

Sylvia secretly determined not to speak a word more to Philip than she could help, and wondered how she could ever have liked Molly at all, much less have made a companion of her.  The table was now laid out, and nothing remained but to criticize the arrangement a little.

Bessy was full of admiration.

‘Theere, Molly!’ said she.  ‘Yo’ niver seed more vittle brought together i’ Newcassel, I’ll be bound; there’ll be above half a hundredweight o’ butcher’s meat, beside pies and custards.  I’ve eaten no dinner these two days for thinking on ’t; it’s been a weary burden on my mind, but it’s off now I see how well it looks.  I told mother not to come near it till we’d spread it all out, and now I’ll go fetch her.’

Bessy ran off into the house-place.

‘It’s well enough in a country kind o’ way,’ said Molly, with the faint approbation of condescension.  ‘But if I’d thought on, I’d ha’ brought ’em down a beast or two done i’ sponge-cake, wi’ currants for his eyes to give t’ table an air.’