’Well, aw dooant think yo did, for aw havn’t begun yet, but awve made up mi mind to start, an that sooin.’

’Waw, ther’ll be a bit ov a sign when tha does begin, but if tha luks soa yonderly afoor startin, aw dooant know what tha’ll luk like afoor th’ weddin day.  But let’s be knowin who’s th’ lass.’

’Well, aw know yo’ll be capt when aw tell yo; but it’s owd Stooansnatch dowter.’

‘Th’ grandest lass aw iver clapt mi een on, but if that’s her tha’s made choice on awm feeard tha’ll be disappointed.  Owd Stooansnatch ’ll want a different chap throo bi thee for his son i’-law; waw, mun, when owt happens th’ owd man, shoo’ll be worth her weight i’ gold.’

‘Hi! fowk say soa, an’ aw’ve been thinkin ’at that’s nooan a bad thing!  Aw’ll drop hawkin then, mother.  If aw get aw’ll that brass aw’ll have suet dumplins to ivery meal.  But putting all that i’th’ back graand, if shoo hadn’t a rag to her back nor a penny in her pocket, shoo’s th’ lass for me; an’ aw connot rest for thinkin abaat her, an’ awm just studdyin abaat gooin to see her to neet.’

‘Why, lad, art ta reight i’ thi heead, thinks ta?  Doesn’t ta know what sooart ov a chap her fayther is?’

‘Aw should think aw do!  Aw’ve nooan traded wi’ him soa long withaat findin him aght.’

’Well, awm nowt agean thi cooartin, but aw think tha mud ha fun sumdy likelier nor Bessy; for tha’ll nobbut be wastin thi time, tha may depend on’t.  They’ll have to be sumdy better nor thee ‘at gets Bessy.’

’Better nor me!  Waw, aw wonder whean yo’ll find him!  For aw can wrastle ony chap mi own weight, an’ aw’ll set misen agean th’ world for bein a judge ov a gooid maily puttate.  Nah, if yo think awm gooin a beggin for her to owd Stooansnatch yo’re off yor horse, for awm net.  Awm baan to ax her th’ furst, an’ if shoo says ‘Eea,’ aw’l sooin work owd Stooansnatch into th’ mind.’

’Why, lad, aw dooan’t know what’s getten into thi heead, but ther niver wor one o’ awr family went cracked afoor, an’ aw hooap tha’ll come raand.’

’Nah, mother, yo dooant know all ’at aw know, but aw’l just let yo into a bit ov a saycret.  Nah, aw’ve nooaticed ’at Bessy allus blushes when shoo comes to buy owt o’ me, an’ shoo luks onywhear else rayther nor shoo’ll luk at me; an’ shoo strokes th’ owd donkey’s nooas an’ maks a fuss on him, an’ even gies him th’ carrot tops, an’ he munches’ em up an’ luks at me as mich as to say—­’This is her Joa; spaik up like a man an’ tha’ll win;’ an’ latly he’s begun to rawt as sooin as iver we’ve getten into th’ end o’ th’ street, an’ aw tak that for a gooid sign, for yo know Jerusalem wod do owt for me.  An’ nah as aw’ve finished mi supper aw’ll be off.’

’Well, lad, aw wish thi weel, but awm feeard.  Aw think if aw wor thee aw should want summat moor nor a donkey rawtin to set me off o’ sich a eearand as that.  Listen! does ta hear it nah?  It’s a rawtin agean.  Can ta tell me what that means?’