An'
then there's the ladies--'specially the very young 'uns, God bless
their bibs an' tuckers! Lord, how they sigh an' tremble an' toss their
pretty curls an' weep an' languish. I heard o' one as always read wi'
her smellin'-salts handy, but then, to be sure, she was a maiden lady
of uncertain age as wished she wasn't an' was smitten wi' love for Tom
Jones, besides, poor soul!"
"But my book--if I ever do write one, will not be read by any one."
"O? Mr. Perry--an' why not?"
"Being all about Diana, it will be too sacred for the perusal of all
and sundry."
"There you're wrong, lad; no book can be too sacred for all folks to
read, if it's writ honestly and sincerely. An' what a book you ought
to write. First there's Anna an' yourself--folks would like to read
about the two o' ye--you're such strange children. Then there's
Jessamy--a wonderful character for any book. Next comes your uncles
an' aunt--Lord, Peregrine, an' there's for ye--'specially your aunt!
And last--" said he, a little wistfully, "if you want some one to fill
in, kind of--to keep th' pot a-b'iling as it were, why--there's me.
Not as your readers will be downright eager to read about a
tinker--no, but you might work me in as a literary cove, d'ye see. How
about it? What d'ye think, Perry lad?"
"Excellent well!" I exclaimed. "You inspire me with such strange
confidence, Jerry, I almost feel I might manage a book--of sorts."
"Then go and try, lad.
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