I should like you to
pick me out a finer-limbed young fellow nor Master Godfrey- one as 'ud
knock you down easier, or's more pleasanter-looksed when he's piert
and merry.'
'Tchuh!' said Mr Macey, provoked to increased severity, 'he isn't
come to his right colour yet: he's partly like a slack-baked pie.
And I doubt he's got a soft place in his head, else why should he be
turned round the finger by that offal Dunsey as nobody's seen o' late,
and let him kill that fine hunting hoss as was the talk o' the
country? And one while he was allays after Miss Nancy, and then it all
went off again, like a smell o' hot porridge, as I may say. That
wasn't my way, when I went a-coorting.'
'Ah, but mayhap Miss Nancy hung off, like, and your lass didn't,'
said Ben.
'I should say she didn't,' said Mr Macey, significantly. 'Before
I said "sniff", I took care to know as she'd say "snaff", and pretty
quick too. I wasn't a-going to open my mouth, like a dog at a fly, and
snap it to again, wi' nothing to swaller.'
'Well, I think Miss Nancy's a-coming round again,' said Ben, 'for
Master Godfrey doesn't look so down-hearted tonight. And I see he's
for taking her away to sit down, now they're at the end o' the
dance: that looks like sweet-hearting that does.'
The reason why Godfrey and Nancy had left the dance was not so
tender as Ben imagined. In the close press of couples a slight
accident had happened to Nancy's dress, which, while it was short
enough to show her neat ankle in front, was long enough behind to be
caught under the stately stamp of the Squire's foot, so as to rend
certain stitches at the waist, and cause much sisterly agitation in
Priscilla's mind, as well as serious concern in Nancy's.
Pages:
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163