Jonah frowned and shook his head.
"Never mind her paarts. Don't become you or any man to name a limb of her separate from the rest. Baan't respectful!"
"Then I'm sorry I said it. An' as for respectfulness, I'd go on my bended knees to her to-morrow."
"Have you?" inquired the parent. "That's the question. Have 'e axed her an' got a answer?"
"Not for the world," stammered Henry. "Not for the world afore gettin' your leave. I knaw my plaace better."
Mr. Cramphorn's nose wrinkled as though it had caught an evil odour.
"Bah! You say that! You'm so chicken-hearted that you come to me 'fore you go to she! Then I sez 'No.' I forbids you to speak a word of the matter, for I reckon your way be more tame an' soft than the likes of her or any other high-spirited female would suffer."
"You'm tu violent—I swear you be," protested Mr. Collins. "You'd have been the fust to blame me if I'd spoke wi'out axin' you. Besides, caan't a man talk apart from usin' his tongue in this matter? I've a looked at her time an' again wi' all the power of the eye. Theer's a language in that, an' she knawed what I meant, or I'm a fule."
"Theer be such a language for sartain," admitted Jonah; "but not for you. No more power o' speech in your gert eyes than a bullock's—I don't mean as it's to be counted any fault in you, but just the will of Nature. An' so enough's said."
"Quick! Run, the pair of 'e!" cried Tommy's voice. "Her's risin' nigh the edge o' Kes Tor Rock all copper-red!"