Daniel.  That’s it, Mother—­that’s it.  And when I’ve wetted my mouth a bit I’ll be able the better to tell you all about how ’twas over there.

May.  O I’d dearly like to go to a Fair, I would.  You always said that you’d take me the next time you went, Uncle.

Daniel.  Ah and so I did, but when I comed to think it over, Fairs baint the place for little maids, I says to mother here—­and no, that they baint, she answers back.  But we’ll see how ’tis when you be growed a bit older, like.  Us’ll see how ’twill be then, won’t us Mother?

Elizabeth.  I wouldn’t encourage the child in her nonsense, if I was you, Dan.  She’s old enough to know better than to ask to be taken to such places.  Why in all my days I never set my foot within a fair, pleasure or business, nor wanted to, either.

May.  And never rode on the pretty wood horses, Aunt, all spotted and with scarlet bridles to them?

Elizabeth.  Certainly not.  I wonder at your asking such a question, May.  But you do say some very unsuitable things for a little child of your age.

May.  And did you get astride of the pretty horses at the Fair, Uncle?

Daniel.  Nay, nay,—­they horses be set in the pleasure part of the Fair, and where I goes ’tis all for doing business like.

[Annet comes back with the glass of cider.  Daniel takes it from her.

Daniel. [Drinking.] You might as well have brought the jug, my girl.

Elizabeth.  No, Father, ’twill spoil your next meal as it is.

[The girls sit down at the table, taking up their work.

Daniel. [Putting down his glass.] But, bless my soul, yon was a Fair in a hundred.  That her was.

Both girls.  O do tell us of all that you did see there, Uncle.

Daniel.  There was a cow—­well, ’tis a smartish lot of cows as I’ve seen in my time, but this one, why, the King haven’t got the match to she in all his great palace, and that’s the truth, so ’tis.

Annet.  O don ’t tell us about the cows, Uncle, we want to know about all the other things.

May.  The shows of acting folk, and the wild animals, and the nice sweets.

Elizabeth.  They don’t want to hear about anything sensible, Dan.  They’re like all the maids now, with their thoughts set on pleasuring and foolishness.

Daniel.  Ah, the maids was different in our day, wasn’t they Mother?

Elizabeth.  And that they were.  Why, when I was your age, Annet, I should have been ashamed if I couldn’t have held my own in any proper or suitable conversation.

Daniel.  Ah, you was a rare sensible maid in your day, Mother.  Do you mind when you comed along of me to Kingham sale?  “You’re never going to buy an animal with all that white to it, Dan, you says to me.