imputation that involved a diminution of her authority, was not within
the code of her practice.

"If they go together," she observed, "it's right to fear God, no doubt;
but that's no raison why they shouldn't pay respect to thim that can
sarve thim or otherwise."

"Nobody says aginst that, Mrs. Moan," replied the other; "it's all fair,
an' nothin' else."

"A midwife's nuttin' in your eyes, we suppose," rejoined Mrs. Moan; "but
maybe's there's thim belongin' to you could tell to the contrary."

"Oblaged to you, we suppose, for your sarvices--an' we're not denyin'
that, aither."

"For me sarvices--maybe thim same sarvices wasn't very sweet or
treaclesome to some o' thim," she rejoined, with a mysterious and
somewhat indignant toss of the head.

"Well, well," said the other in a friendly tone, "that makes no maxims
one way or the other, only dhrink this--sure we're not goin' to quarrel
about it, any how."

"God forbid, Honora More! but sure it ud ill become me to hear my own
corree--no, no, avourneen," she exclaimed, putting hack the glass; "I
can't take it this--a--way; it doesn't agree wid me; you must put a
grain o' shugar an' a dhrop o' bilin' wather to it. It may do very well
hard for the sarvints, but I'm not used to it."