{"product_id":"2940013677449","title":"The Merry-go-round","description":"The downstairs front room of a moderate-sized cottage.  There is a\u003cbr\u003ewide fireplace, with a heaped-up ashy fire.  The parlour is used as\u003cbr\u003ea bedroom, and contains a heavy old-fashioned mahogany dressing-\u003cbr\u003etable, a washstand, and a bedstead whose canopy is missing, so that\u003cbr\u003ethe handsome posts stand like ruined columns.  The room is in an\u003cbr\u003euntidy, neglected condition, medicine bottles and sickroom\u003cbr\u003eparaphernalia littered about.  In the bed, a woman between sixty\u003cbr\u003eand seventy, with a large-boned face, and a long plait of fine dark\u003cbr\u003ehair.  Enter the parish NURSE, in uniform, but without cloak and\u003cbr\u003ebonnet.  She is a well-built woman of some thirty years, smooth-\u003cbr\u003ehaired, pale, soothing in manner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  Eh, Nurse, I'm glad to see thee.  I HAN been\u003cbr\u003emotherless while thou's been away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE:  Haven't they looked after you, Mrs Hemstock?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  They hanna, Nurse.  Here I lie, day in, day out,\u003cbr\u003elike a beetle on my back, an' not a soul comes nigh me, saving th'\u003cbr\u003eMester, when 'e's forced.  An' 'im.  (She points to mirror of\u003cbr\u003edressing-table.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE:  Who is that, Mrs Hemstock?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  Canna ter see 'im?  That little fat chap as stands\u003cbr\u003ethere laughing at me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE:  There's no little fat chap, Mrs Hemstock.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  There is an' a'.  He's bobbing a' thee now.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE, who has been rolling up her sleeves, showing a fine white\u003cbr\u003earm, throws her rolled cuffs at the mirror.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE:  Then we'll send him away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  Nay, dunna thee hurt him.  'E's nowt but a little\u003cbr\u003echap!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE:  I'll wash you, shall I?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  Tha nedna but gi' me a catlick.  I'm as snug as a\u003cbr\u003ebug in a rug.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE (laughing):  Very well.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe goes into the kitchen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK (calling):  Who's in there, Nurse?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE:  There's nobody, Mrs Hemstock.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  I bet he's gallivanting off after some woman.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE (calling):  Who?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  Why, our Mester.  'E's a ronk 'un, I can tell you.\u003cbr\u003e'As our Harry done it?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE:  Done what, Mrs Hemstock?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  Cut 'is throat.  'E's allers threatenin'!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNURSE (entering with a jug of hot water):  What!  You're not\u003cbr\u003eserious, Mrs Hemstock.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMRS HEMSTOCK:  Aren't I?  But I am.  An' 'e'll do it one o' these\u003cbr\u003edays, if 'e's not a'ready.  I 'avena clapped eyes on him for five\u003cbr\u003edays.","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47158198927600,"sku":"2940013677449","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013677449_p0.jpg?v=1763584370","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013677449","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}