Chapter II. Mr Tulliver, of Dorlcote Mill, Declares His Resolution about Tom

adealo’saltinhisbroth.Thatwasmybrother’sway,andmyfather’sbeforehim.” “Itseemsabitapity,though,”saidMrTulliver,“astheladshouldtakeafterthemother’ssideinsteado’thelittlewench.That’stheworston’twi’crossingo’breeds:youcanneverjustlycalkilatewhat’llcomeon’t.Thelittleuntakesaftermyside,now:she’stwiceas’cuteasTom.Too’cuteforawoman,I’mafraid,”continuedMrTulliver,turninghisheaddubiouslyfirstononesideandthenontheother.“It’snomischiefmuchwhileshe’salittleunbutanover-’cutewoman’snobetternoralong-tailedsheep,—she’llfetchnonethebiggerpriceforthat.” “Yes,itisamischiefwhileshe’salittleun,MrTulliver,foritrunstonaughtiness.Howtokeepherinacleanpinaforetwohourstogetherpassesmycunning.An’nowyouputmei’mind,”continuedMrsTulliver,risingandgoingtothewindow,“Idon’tknowwheresheisnow,an’it’sprettynightea-time.Ah,Ithoughtso,—wanderin’upan’downbythewater,likeawildthing:She’lltumbleinsomeday.” MrsTulliverrappedthewindowsharply,beckoned,andshookherhead,—aprocesswhichsherepeatedmorethanoncebeforeshereturnedtoherchair. “Youtalko’’cuteness,MrTulliver,”sheobservedasshesatdown,“butI’msurethechild’shalfanidioti’somethingsforifIsendherupstairstofetchanything,sheforgetswhatshe’sgonefor,an’perhaps’ullsitdownonthefloori’thesunshinean’plaitherhairan’singtoherselflikeaBedlamcreatur’,allthewhileI’mwaitingforherdownstairs.Thatniverruni’myfamily,thankGod!nomorenorabrownskinasmakesherlooklikeamulatter.Idon’tliketoflyi’thefaceo’Providence,butitseemshardasIshouldhavebutonegell,an’hersocomical.” “Pooh,nonsense!”saidMrTulliver“she’sastraight,black-eyedwenchasanybodyneedwishtosee.Idon’tknowi’whatshe’sbehindotherfolks’schildrenandshecanreadalmostaswellastheparson.” “Butherhairwon’tcurlallIcandowithit,andshe’ssofranzyabouthavingitputi’paper,andI’vesuchworkasneverwastomakeherstandandhaveitpinchedwithth’irons.” “Cutitoff—cutitoffshort,”saidthefather,rashly. “Howcanyoutalkso,MrTulliver?She’stoobigagell—gonenine,andtallofherage—tohaveherhaircutshortan’there’shercousinLucy’sgotarowo’curlsroundherhead,an’notahairouto’place.ItseemshardasmysisterDeaneshouldhavethatprettychildI’msureLucytakesmoreaftermen