Margaret got up, and found some water; and soaking her pocket-handkerchief in it, she laid the cool wetness on Bessy's forehead, and began to chafe the stone-cold feet. Bessy shut her eyes, and allowed herself to be soothed. At last she said,
"Yo'd ha' been deaved out o' yo'r five wits, as well as me, if yo'd had one body after another coming in to ask for father, and staying to tell me each one their tale. Some spoke o' deadly hatred, and made my blood run cold wi' the terrible things they said o' th' masters,--but more, being women, kept plaining, plaining (wi' the tears running down their cheeks, and never wiped away, nor heeded), of the price o' meat, and how their childer could na sleep at nights for th' hunger."
"And do they think the strike will mend this?" asked Margaret.

Margaret got up, and soaking her handkerchief in water, she laid it on Bessy's forehead. Bessy shut her eyes, and allowed herself to be soothed. At last she said,
'Yo'd ha' been deaved out o' your five wits, as well as me, if yo'd heard father's friends telling their tales. Some spoke o' deadly hatred, and made my blood run cold wi' the terrible things they said o' th' masters - but the women kept plaining, plaining (wi' the tears running down their cheeks) of the price o' meat, and how their childer could na sleep at nights for th' hunger.'
'And do they think the strike will mend this?' asked Margaret.
