“Come thi ways to thi supper, Sammywell, aw wor gettin uneasy abaat thi.”

“Has Hepsabah been?” he axt.

“Eeah.  An shoo’s shown me her new hat, an aw must say aw didn’t gie thi credit for havin sich gooid taste.  Shoo’s famously suited, an awm pleeased to think tha’s acted as a father should act for once.  Aw do believe if tha could nobbut live long enuff aw should be able to mak a daycent chap on thi at th’ finish.”

“Did shoo say owt abaght what it cost?”

“Nay shoo didn’t, an aw nivver axt her, for aw know tha’d nooan be likely to give mich; but if aw thowt aw could get one like it for owt under five an twenty shillin awd be after one i’th mornin.”

“Well, but tha connot,—­for ther’s nivver been but one made o’ that pattern.”

“Ther’d happen be one ov another pattern to suit me.”

“Ther’s noa moor ov onny sooart whativver; for th’ chap at keeps that shop is gooin to retire from business to-neet an start a bank i’th mornin,—­an noa wonder.”

“Onnybody’d think to listen to thi at tha didn’t thoil it.  Aw know ha mich brass tha tuk wi thi an if tha’s spent it all, what bi that!  Tha doesn’t buy thi dowter a hat ivvery wick! an its far cheaper to buy a daycent article nor to squander yor brass on a lot o’ rubbish.  Shoo’s varry careful ov her clooas is Hepsabah, an tha’ll see it’ll ha lasted weel bi th’ time tha gooas to buy her another.”

“That’s a moral sartainty.  If that hat lasts her wol aw buy her another it’ll last a long time.”

“Say noa moor abaat it.  Tha’s suited us an if tha hasn’t suited thisen its thi own fault.  Aw thowt tha desarved a bit ov a treeat soa aw fotched thi a drop o’ thi favourite, an if tha doesn’t want it all thisen aw dooant mind havin a drop.”

“That’s all reight, Mally, an awm glad tha’rt soa thowtful, but aw connot help thinkin tha’rt a varry inconsistent woman.”

“Nah then!  If tha’rt gooin to start callin me names aw willn’t have a drop!”

“Aw dooant want to call thi names, but facts are stubborn things.  If aw happen to goa an get two-penoth into mi heead tha praiches at me for a full clockhaar abaat th’ sin ov extravagance an th’ blessins ov economy; but awr Hepsabah can wear a hat at’s cost as mich as aw could buy a distillary for, an that’s all reight.”

“If tha bowt a distillery, Sammywell, nawther thee nor it wod last as long as awr Hepsabah’s hat, soa things are better as they are.  Hand ovver what change tha’s getten i’ thi pocket an then sup up an let’s get off to bed, an be thankful tha’s getten a dowter to buy a hat for, an a wife at advises thee allus for th’ best.”

“All reight, lass,—­awm ready,—­but aw connot for th’ life o’ me see what awr Hepsabah’s hat has to do wi young wimmen darnin ther stockins an weshin ther shifts.”

“A’a, Sammywell!  Ther’s a deeal o’ things abaat wimmen at tha has to leearn yet.”

“Aw believe there is,—­but twenty two an sixpence a lesson is a trifle aboon my cut.”