"Well, but--" said the Tinker as she reappeared, "Gabbing Dick ain't a
fighter like Jem Belcher or Gentleman Jack Barty or Jessamy Todd.
Dick's a poorish creetur'--"
"He's twice as big and heavy as Peregrine!" she retorted.
"True!" said he. "And yet friend Peregrine ain't exactly--"
"Supper's ready!" she cried.
"Good!" exclaimed the Tinker, rising, but his sharp eyes seemed keener
than ever as he glanced from Diana's lovely, flushed face to me and
back again. Then down we sat to supper as savoury as mortal palate
could desire; the Tinker, having tasted, sighed and winked his
approbation at me, forgetful of Diana's bright and watchful eyes.
"Well, Jerry," she demanded, "how is it?"
"'Twill do, lass, 'twill do," he answered; "though you've come it a
leetle too strong o' the pepper and salt, to my thinking, still--it'll
do. And now, friend Peregrine, I'm consarned to know what's become of
all your money--"
"He buys me with it," answered Diana.
"Eh--bought you?"
"For fourteen guineas, a florin, one groat and three pennies, Jerry!"
The Tinker gulped and stared.
"Lord love you, gal--what d'ye mean?" he questioned.
"'T was all old Azor's doing, Jerry. She gives me to her grandson
Joseph for his _mort,_ but I gives Joseph a touch of my little
_churi_ and runs away and happens on Peregrine. But she follows
me with Jochabed and Bennigo, that I hates more than Joseph, and she
was for going to force me to take him could give most money, and
Peregrine has most, so she weds me to Peregrine.
Pages:
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177