[ She can't help it, she snort-laughs horribly loudly at that answer, and then vindictively offers: ]

They did! They did - 'suck'. [ the modern slang comes out stilted and wrong, but she tries it out anyway. ] One of them said - said my face was 'serviceable to get the job done if he had to' to make me feel better!

But he was five and sixty, and Elspeth told me because thought he was so awful — his other wife gossiped, said his — prick did not work n'more.

Now who can't get job done! No woman in m' family ever has less than fou' healthy babes. But he has to - give them to me first!

[ She peels in laughter, pleased with herself. ]