Lunnon folks, they tell me, wi' names a foot tall stuck 'pon the
hoardings. Us thot 'twould be a pleasin' kind o' junketin' to go an'
listen. Not but entertainments o' singin' by night be mighty exciting to
the blood. Awnly just for wance, Polly reckoned it might do us all good.
An' Polly knaws what's singin' an' what edn' so well as any lass. The
riders [Footnote: _The riders_--A circus.] be comin' likewise, though
maybe that's tu wild an' savage amoosment for quiet folks."
"You an' Polly go to the singin' then. 'Tedn' for the likes o' me."
Then Joan turned to her cousin, who was pouring tea out of a little pot
which held two cups and no more.
"Let me have the last nine drops, Polly; they'm good for the heartache, an'
mine's more'n common sore to-night."
Mary sighed, opened her mouth to preach a sermon, but shut it without a
word. She drained the teapot into Joan's cup, and then, from a bright mood
for her, relapsed into cold silence. Uncle Chirgwin, however, prattled on
about the concert until his elder niece finished her tea and went to bed.
Then he put down his pipe, took a long pull at his drink, and began to talk
hurriedly to Joan.
"I bin an' got a wonnerful fine notion this day, drivin' home-long, Joan;
an' it's comed back an' back that importuneous that I lay it's truth, an'
sent for me to remember. D'you knaw that since you comed to Drift us have
prospered uncommon? Iss, us have.
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