“They didn’t cost so much as that.”

“By Gor!  Didn’t they?  Well, set out in full, like this here, they do sound as if they ought to be worth it.  Now, I’ll read ’em to see how it all sounds in spoken words.”

He cleared his throat and began: 

“’Sale this day to Newtake Farm, near Chagford, Dartmoor, Devonshire.  Mr. William Blanchard, being about to leave England for foreign parts, desires to sell at auction his farm property, household goods, cloam, and effects, etc., etc., as per items below, to the best bidder.  Many things so good as new.’  How do ’e like that, Phoebe?”

“Butivul; but do ’e mean in all solemn seriousness to go out England?  ’T is a awful thought, come you look at it close.”

“Ess, ‘t is a gert, bold thing to do; but I doan’t fear it.  I be gettin’ into a business-like way o’ lookin’ ‘pon life of late; an’ I counts the cost an’ moves arter, as is the right order.  Listen to these items set out here.  If they ’m printed big, wan under t’other, same as I’ve wrote ’em, they’ll fill a barn door purty nigh!”

Then he turned to his papers.

“’The said goods and chattels are as follows, namely,’—­reg’lar lawyer’s English, you see, though how I comed to get it so pat I caan’t tell.  Yet theer ’tis—­’namely, 2 washing trays; 3 zinc buckets; 1 meat preserve; 1 lantern; 2 bird-cages; carving knife and steel (Sheffield make)—­’”

“Do’e judge that’s the best order, Will?”

“Coourse ‘t is!  I thought that out specially.  Doan’t go thrawin’ me from my stride in the middle.  Arter ‘Sheffield make,’ ’half-dozen knives and forks; sundry ditto, not so good; hand saw; 2 hammers; 1 cleaver; salting trendle; 3 wheelbarrows—­’”

“Doan’t forget you lent wan of ’em to Farmer Thackwell.”

“No, I gived it to un, him bein’ pushed for need of wan.  It slipped my memory. ‘2 wheelbarrows.’  Then I goes on, ’pig stock; pig trough; 2 young breeding sows; 4 garden tools; 2 peat cutters; 2 carts; 1 market trap; 1 empty cask; 1 Dutch oven; 1 funnel; 2 firkins and a cider jib; small sieve; 3 pairs new Bedford harrows; 1 chain harrow (out of repair).’  You see all’s straight enough, which it ban’t in some sales.  No man shall say he’s got less than full value.”

“You’m the last to think of such a thing.”

“I am.  It goes on like this:  ’5 mattocks; 4 digging picks; 4 head chains; 1 axe; sledge and wedges; also hooks, eyes, and hasps for hard wood.’  Never used ’em all the time us been here. ’2 sets of trap harness, much worn.’  I ban’t gwaine to sell the dogs—­eh?  Us won’t sell Ship or your li’l terrier.  What do ’e say?”

“No.  Nobody would buy two auld dogs, for that matter.”

“Though how a upland dog like Ship be gwaine to faace the fiery sunshine on furrin gawld diggings, I caan’t answer.  Here goes again:  ’1 sofa; 1 armchair; 4 fine chairs with green cloth seats; 1 bedstead; 2 cots; 1 cradle; feather beds and palliasses and bolster pillows to match; wash-stands and sets of crockery, mostly complete; 2 swing glasses; 3 bedroom chairs; 1 set of breeching harness—­’”