‘Why, thear’s th’ brass,’ sed Joa, flinging it on to th’ table.  ’Aw should think it owt to pay for a cannel or two.’

’It’s nowt to thee what it’ll pay for! but tha’s noa need to sit daan thear for we’re gooin to bed, an’ soa tha mun goa.’

‘Well dooan’t bi i’ sich a hurry abbat it, awm net goin to stop all th’ neet yo needn’t think, but aw’ve another bit o’ business to see yo abaat, ‘at’ll be moor i’ yer way nor that hauf-craan’s been.’

‘Well if that’s th’ case tha con stop a bit an’ aw’ll put th’ cannel aght, for we can tawk i’th’ dark.  An’ nah tell me what it is.’

‘Yo see,’ sed Joa, ’aw’ve been thinkin ’at it ud be a trouble to yo to loise yor dowter, for aw know shoo’s a gooid lass.’

‘Shoo’s a extravagant hussey, that’s what shoo is,’ sed Stooansnatch, ’for shoo’s just gien a booan away ‘at’s niver been stew’d nobbut once.’

’Why shoo mayn’t be just as careful as yo, shoo’s young yet; but then aw dooant think if her an’ me gate wed withaat iver lettin yo know ’at yo’d be altogether suited.’

’Wed!  Wed!  Who says shoo’s gooin to get wed?  Wed! what to a bit ov a puttaty hawker?  If tha mentions sich a thing to me aw’ll bundle thi aght o’th’ door i’ quick sticks.’

‘Well, aw have mentioned it, an’ aw’st mention it agean if aw like; an’ as for shovin me aght o’th’ door, aw’ll forgi yo if yo do that.’  An Joa quietly gate up an’ locked th’ door an’ put th’ key in his pocket.

When owd Stooansnatch saw that he lauped aght of his cheer, fooamin at th’ maath like a mad dog.  ’What are ta baan to do?  Does ta want to rob me?  Aw’ll mak thee pay for this!’

’Yo can call it robbin if yo like, but what aw’ve coom for is yor dowter, an’ aw mean to have her unless shoo says noa, an’ aw dooant think her heart’s hard enuff for that,’ sed Joa lukkin at her.  But Bessy niver spaik, an’ shoo seemed as if shoo could see nowt but th’ toa aght o’th’ end ov her slipper.

’Tha nasty ragamuffin!  Tha impident scamp!  Oppen that door!  If tha doesn’t aw’ll fetch th’ perleece!  Aw’d rayther bury her alive nor tha should have her!’

’Why yo needn’t get into sich a fit abaat it fayther (for aw suppooas aw may call yo fayther nah), yo know sich things—­’

’Fayther!  Fayther!  Whose fayther?  Awm nooan thy fayther nor likely to be!  Aw’d rayther pairt wi’ ivery hawpeny aw have nor iver think ’at tha wor owt to me!’

‘Well, Bessy’s fayther’ll be my fayther when we get wed, an’ aw dooan’t see what ther is to be ‘shamed on i’ that.  But aw think yo’d better put a bit o’ coil on th’ foir for it’s rayther a cooil neet.’

‘Awst put noa coil on th’ foir, aw con tell thi that.  Aw havn’t getten my brass wi’ burnin coil at this time o’th’ neet.  Aw hooap tha’ll be frozzen to th’ deeath if tha doesn’t goa.’

’Noa fear abaat me bein frozzen, becoss if yo d’ooant put some on aw will, soa crack that nut, fayther.’