“I’ll come and sit by you,” said Nell to Peace, “because you are a clever man, I’m thinking.”
“I am very much flattered, I am sure,” he answered with a smirk.
“So un ought to be,” said another of the company, “it aint many as Nell condescends to flatter.”
A young peasant and peasantess as Mark Twain would say, making eyes at one another after the approved fashion, attracted the young woman’s attention.
“Now I call that a wonderfully well done picture,” said she.
“Do you like it?” asked Peace.
“Yes, very much.”
“Well then I shall beg of you to accept it.”
The girl coloured up, not rightly understanding his meaning.
“What be hesitating about, Nell?” said old Nat, “Don’t ye understand it’s given to you as a present?”