Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad with Tales and Miscellanies Now First Collected Volume III Part 11

d.i.c.k.

Why, here's heel-pieces, and a patch upon each toe; one must live, Meg!

MARGERY.

Yes, d.i.c.k, love; but so must other folks. Now I think seven-pence would be enough in all conscience--what do you say?

d.i.c.k.

Well, settle it as you like; only get a bit of dinner for us, for I'm as hungry as a hunter, I know.

MARGERY.

I'm going. Good bye, d.i.c.k!

d.i.c.k.

Take care of theeself--and don't spend the change in caps and ribbons, Meg.

MARGERY.

Caps and ribbons out of seven-pence! Lord help the man! ha, ha, ha!

(_She goes out._)

d.i.c.k--(_calling after her._)

And come back soon, d'ye hear? There she goes--hop, skip, and jump, down the stairs. Somehow, I can't abear to have her out of my sight a minute.

Well, if ever there was a man could say he had a good wife, why, that's me myself--tho'f I say it--the cheerfullest, sweetest temperedst, cleanliest, lovingest woman in the whole parish, that never gives one an ill word from year's end to year's end, and deserves at least that a man should work hard for her--it's all I can do--and we must think for to-morrow as well as to-day. (_He works with great energy, and sings at the same time with equal enthusiasm._)

Cannot ye do as I do?

Cannot ye do as I do ?

Spend your money, and work for more; _That's_ the way that I do!

Tol de rol lol.

_Re-enter MARGERY in haste._

MARG.--(_out of breath._)

Oh, d.i.c.k, husband! d.i.c.k, I say!

d.i.c.k.

Hay! what's the matter now?

MARGERY.

Here be one of those fine powdered laced fellows from over the way comed after you again.

d.i.c.k--(_rising._)

An impudent jackanapes! I'll give him as good as he brings.

MARGERY.

Oh, no, no! he's monstrous civil now; for he chucked me under the chin, and says he, "My pretty girl!"

d.i.c.k.

Ho! monstrous civil indeed, with a vengeance!

MARGERY.

And says he, "Do you belong to this here house?" "Yes, sir," says I, making a curtsy, for I couldn't do no less when he spoke so civil; and says he, "Is there an honest cobbler as lives here?" "Yes, sir," says I, "my husband that is." "Then, my dear," says he, "just tell him to step over the way, for my Lady Amaranthe wishes to speak to him immediately."

d.i.c.k.

A lady? O Lord!

MARGERY.

Yes, so you must go directly. Here, take off your ap.r.o.n, and let me comb your hair a bit.

d.i.c.k.

What the mischief can a lady want with me? I've nothing to do with ladies, as I knows of.

MARGERY.

Why, she won't eat you up, I reckon.

d.i.c.k.

And yet I--I--I be afeard, Meg!

MARGERY.

Afeard of a lady! that's a good one!

d.i.c.k.

Ay, just--if it were a man, I shouldn't care a fig.

MARGERY.

But we've never done no harm to n.o.body in our whole lives, so what is there to be afraid of?

d.i.c.k.