"Why, it's a family disease, is it?
No, never! What a fancy, to be sure! Have I ever asked you to do anything so nasty?
Neither one nor t'other of you! No, never!" The lad's face brightened.

Perhaps he had been deceiving himself! He continued: "Then swear to me that you don't go to bed with my brother." "Oh, you're beginning to bore me now!" said Nana, who had risen with renewed impatience.

"It's amusing for a little while, but when I tell you I'm in a hurry--I go to bed with your brother if it pleases me.

Are you keeping me--are you paymaster here that you insist on my making a report?
Yes, I go to bed with your brother." He had caught hold of her arm and squeezed it hard enough to break it as he stuttered: "Don't say that! Don't say that!" With a slight blow she disengaged herself from his grasp.
"He's maltreating me now! Here's a young ruffian for you! My chicken, you'll leave this jolly sharp.

I used to keep you about out of niceness.
Yes, I did! You may stare! Did you think I was going to be your mamma till I died?
I've got better things to do than to bring up brats." He listened to her stark with anguish, yet in utter submission.