"Well, Jane, which do you think you ought to do?"

"I think I oughter work, and if you and Mrs. Wiggins will let me, I will work
in spite of mother."

"I think that you and your mother both should help do the necessary work
today. There won't be much."

"If I try and help Mrs. Wiggins, mother'll bounce out at me. She shook me
last night after I went upstairs, and she boxed my ears 'cause I wanted to
keep the kitchen fire up last night."

"I'll go with you to the kitchen and tell Mrs. Wiggins to let you help, and I
won't let your mother punish you again unless you do wrong."

Mrs. Wiggins, relying on Jane's promise of help, had sat down to the solace of
her pipe for a few minutes, but was about to thrust it hastily away on seeing
Holcroft. He reassured her by saying good-naturedly, "No need of that, my
good woman. Sit still and enjoy your pipe. I like to smoke myself. Jane
will help clear away things and I wish her to. You'll find she's quite handy.
By the way, have you all the tobacco you want?"

"Vell, now, master, p'raps ye know the 'lowance down hat the poor-us vasn't
sich as ud keep a body in vat ye'd call satisfyin' smokin'. Hi never 'ad
henough ter keep down the 'ankerin'."

"I suppose that's so. You shall have half of my stock, and when I go to town
again, I'll get you a good supply. I guess I'll light my pipe, too, before
starting for a walk."