"Foolishness!" she exclaimed.
"Indeed, madam?"
"It's wicked waste o' money--an' don't call me 'madam'!"
"I suppose I may be permitted to spend my money to please myself,
girl?"
"I s'pose so, boy! Easy come, easy go! You can get more any time ye
want, just for the askin', can't you? But you wouldn't spend s' gay
an' careless if you had to earn your money, to slave an' sweat for
it--not you!"
"How do you know?" I demanded in towering anger.
"Just because!"
"I consider you are very--exceedingly--" I checked the word upon my
lips and scowled.
"Well? Very exceedingly--what?" she demanded.
"Never mind!"
"I don't!" she retorted, and flicked Diogenes to speedier gait, for
evening was beginning to fall.
CHAPTER XXXI
A VEREKER'S ADVICE TO A VEREKER
Diogenes, perceiving he was permitted to loiter no more,
philosophically betook himself to his heels, or rather hoofs, and
trotted briskly supper-wards, up hill and down, until suddenly, above
the rattle and grind of the wheels, I was aware of a man's voice,
peculiarly sonorous and sweet, upraised in joyful singing.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below--"
The single voice was joined by others that swelled in jubilant chorus:
"Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."
Reaching the top of a hill I looked down upon a little hamlet shady
with trees, a cluster of thatched, flower-girt cottages, a hoary
church, an ancient inn before which last stood Jessamy Todd and a
group of rustic folk, men in smocked frocks or shirt sleeves,
bare-armed women in aprons or print gowns, children tousled and round
of eye, and all, for the most part, very silent, with heads reverently
bowed, for Jessamy was praying:
"--so Heavenly Father here we be, Thy children all, weary with
another day's labour, grant us this night Thy peace, each one.
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