`` Cross your hearts ? '' `` Cross our hearts . '' `` Well , I 've run away . I was living with Mrs. Wiley over-harbour . Do you know Mrs. Wiley ? '' `` No . '' `` Well , you do n't want to know her . She 's an awful woman . My , how I hate her ! She worked me to death and would n't give me half enough to eat , and she used to larrup me ` most every day . Look a-here . '' Mary rolled up her ragged sleeves , and held up her scrawny arms and thin hands , chapped almost to rawness . They were black with bruises . The manse children shivered . Faith flushed crimson with indignation . Una 's blue eyes filled with tears . `` She licked me Wednesday night with a stick , '' said Mary , indifferently . `` It was 'cause I let the cow kick over a pail of milk . How 'd I know the darn old cow was going to kick ? '' A not unpleasant thrill ran over her listeners .
They would never dream XXXXX using such dubious words , but it was rather titivating to hear someone else use them -- and a girl , at that .
Mary Una Wiley day night of over rawness to with