'I must go in and have a gossip with the old woman.

Aileen can tell me after tea.

I daresay it's not so good that it won't keep.' Mother was that fond of both of us that I believe, as sure as I sit here, she'd have put her head on the block, or died in any other way for either of her boys, not because it was her duty, but glad and cheerful like, to have saved us from death or disgrace.

I think she was fonder of us two than she was of Aileen.

Mothers are generally fonder of their sons.