and flesh and blood could not resist pipeclaying them for him; and a pretty brushing he’d have, I reckon, to get it off again.  Well! at length he clears his throat uncommon loud; so I spreads my duster, and shuts my eyes all ready; but when nought comed of it, I opened my eyes a little bit to see what he were about.  My word! if there he wasn’t down on his knees right facing me, staring as hard as he could.  Well!  I thought it would be hard work to stand that, if he made a long ado; so I shut my eyes again, and tried to think serious, as became what I fancied were coming; but forgive me! but I thought why couldn’t the fellow go in and pray wi’ Master Thurstan, as had always a calm spirit ready for prayer, instead o’ me who had my dresser to scour, let alone an apron to iron.  At last he says, says he, ’Sally! will you oblige me with your hand?’ So I thought it were, maybe, Methodee fashion to pray hand in hand; and I’ll not deny but I wished I’d washed it better after blackleading the kitchen fire.  I thought I’d better tell him it were not so clean as I could wish, so says I, ’Master Dixon, you shall have it, and welcome, if I may just go and wash ‘em first.’  But, says he, ’My dear Sally, dirty or clean, it’s all the same to me, seeing I’m only speaking in a figuring way.  What I’m asking on my bended knees is, that you’d please to be so kind as to be my wedded wife; week after next will suit me, if it’s agreeable to you!’ My word!  I were up on my feet in an instant!  It were odd now, weren’t it?  I never thought of taking the fellow, and getting married; for all, I’ll not deny, I had been thinking it would be agreeable to be axed.  But all at once, I couldn’t abide the chap.  ‘Sir,’ says I, trying to look shamefaced as became the occasion, but for all that feeling a twittering round my mouth that I were afeard might end in a laugh—­’Master Dixon, I’m obleeged to you for the compliment, and thank ye all the same, but I think I’d prefer a single life.’  He looked mighty taken aback; but in a minute he cleared up, and was as sweet as ever.  He still kept on his knees, and I wished he’d take himself up; but, I reckon, he thought it would give force to his words; says he, ’Think again, my dear Sally.  I’ve a four-roomed house, and furniture conformable; and eighty pound a year.  You may never have such a chance again.’  There were truth enough in that, but it was not pretty in the man to say it; and it put me up a bit.  ’As for that, neither you nor I can tell, Master Dixon.  You’re not the first chap as I’ve had down on his knees afore me, axing me to marry him (you see I were thinking of John Rawson, only I thought there were no need to say he were on all-fours—­it were truth he were on his knees, you know), and maybe you’ll not be the last.  Anyhow, I’ve no wish to change my condition just now.’  ‘I’ll wait till Christmas,’ says he.  ’I’ve a pig as will be ready for killing then, so I must get married before that.’  Well now! would you believe it? the pig was a temptation.