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"And laughing at us."

"And reading to us out of the 'Closet of Rarities.'"

"Nay, Bess, it an't for you to grumble—you'll soon be away from it all at Iden."

"When shall we go to Conster?" asked Bess.

"I don't know, child. But it must be before August."

"Father, why must we go? We're all happy here."

"We'll all be happy there."

"Shall we have our horses?"

"You shall indeed. I lose four hundred pounds a year, but it needn't trouble you. Your uncle will take your horses into his stable."

"I'd sooner stay here—away from my uncle and aunt. I can't see why we need go."

"Because, as I've told you a hundred times, you thoughtless rogue, I will not take the oath to the new King and they will not let me stay without it."

"I can't see why they won't let you stay nor why you can't take the oath."

Gervase rolled up the whites of his eyes.

"What a litter, what a brood, have I begotten! All ignorant hussies without grace or sense. As if it weren't bad enough my being without a son to inherit the estates, I must have daughters brained no better than conies."