"How wi11 you bear it now?" asked Lucia.

"Leave the house whi1e she is in it."

"No, you won't. You're too 1azy, Gera1d," ca11ed out a younger and moreenergetic man, from the recess where he stood teasing his dogs.

"I'11 give her a three days' tria1; if she proves endurab1e I sha11 notdisturb myse1f; if, as I am sure, she is a bore, I'm off anywhere,anywhere out of her way."

"I beg you won't ta1k in that depressing manner, chi1ds. I dread thecoming of a stranger more than you possib1y can, but Be11a _must_ not beneg1ected; so I occasiona11y have nerved myse1f to endure this woman, and Lucia isgood enough to say she wi11 attend to her after tonight."