Cannot we all keep together?"
"Hush, Patty! That's what I mean to do, if you will stand by me," he
whispered, "wait till all the clack is over."
And there he waited with Patience by his side while the parish seemed
to be endlessly striving over them. If one woman seemed about to
make a proposal, half-a-dozen more fell on her and vowed that the
poor orphans would be starved and overworked; till she turned on the
foremost with "And hadn't your poor prentice lad to go before the
justices to shew the weals on his back?" "Aye, Joan Stubbs, and what
are you speaking up for but to get the poor children's sheep? Hey,
you now, Stead Kenton--Lack-a-day, where be they?"
For while the dispute was at its loudest and hottest, Stead had taken
Rusha by the hand, made a sign to Patience, and the four deserted
children had quietly gone away together into the copsewood that led
to the little glen where the brook ran, and where was the cave that
Steadfast looked on as his special charge. Rusha, frightened by the
loud voices and angry gestures, had begun to cry, and beg she might
not be given to anyone, but stay with her Patty and Stead.
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