"The more shame for you--you would, if you'd had the feelings of a
parent--but I'm sorry to say, Caudle, you haven't. I'm sure those
Briggs's girls--the little minxes!--put me into such a pucker, I
could have pulled their ears for 'em over the pew. What do you say?

"I OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF MYSELF TO OWN IT?

"No, Mr. Caudle; the shame lies with you, that don't let your
children appear at church like other people's children, that make 'em
uncomfortable at their devotions, poor things! for how can it be
otherwise, when they see themselves dressed like nobody else?

"Now, Caudle, it's no use talking; those children shall not cross the
threshold next Sunday, if they haven't things for the summer. Now
mind--they sha'n't; and there's an end of it. I won't have 'em
exposed to the Briggs's and the Browns again: no, they shall know
they have a mother, if they've no father to feel for 'em. What do
you say, Caudle?

"A GOOD DEAL I MUST THINK OF CHURCH, IF I THINK SO MUCH OF WHAT WE GO
IN?

"I only wish you thought as much as I do, you'd be a better man than
you are, Caudle, I can tell you; but that's nothing to do with it.
I'm talking about decent clothes for the children for the summer, and
you want to put me off with something about the church; but that's so
like you, Caudle!

"I'M ALWAYS WANTING MONEY FOR CLOTHES?