Bessy lay back without taking any notice of what Margaret said. She did not cry--she only quivered up her breath.
"My heart's drained dry o' tears," she said. "Boucher's been in these days past, a telling me of his fears and his troubles. He's but a weak kind of chap, I know, but he's a man for a' that; and tho' I've been angry, many a time afore now, wi' him an' his wife, as knew no more nor him how to manage, yet yo' see, all folks isn't wise, yet God lets 'em live--ay, an' gives 'em some one to love, and be loved by, just as good as Solomon. An' if sorrow comes to them they love, it hurts 'em as sore as e'er it did Solomon. I can't make it out. Perhaps it's as well such a one as Boucher has th' Union to see after him. But I'd just like for to see th' men as make th' Union, and put 'em one by one face to face wi' Boucher. I reckon, if they heard him, the'd tell him (if I cotched 'em one by one), he might go back and get what he could for his work, even if it weren't so much as they ordered."

Bessy lay back, her breath quivering. 'My heart's drained dry o' tears,' she said. 'Boucher's been a telling me of his fears and troubles. He's but a weak chap, I know, but he's a man for a' that; and tho' I've been angry many a time wi' him an' his wife, as knew no more than him how to manage - yet, yo' see, all folks isn't wise, yet God lets 'em live - ay, an' gives 'em some one to love, and be loved by, just as good as Solomon. An' if sorrow comes to them they love, it hurts 'em as sore as it did Solomon. Perhaps it's as well Boucher has th' Union to see after him. But I'd just like for to see th' Union men face to face wi' Boucher. I reckon they'd tell him he might go back to work.'
