“That’s mighty qu’ar. The Duke promised he would write me two waaks ago from his castle and return the five pounds I loaned him. Ye can’t thrust the nobility.”
“I am sorry,” said the sympathetic postmistress, “but I don’t see how I can help you. Have patience and all will come right.”
“Don’t think it’s yersilf I’m blaming, though onraisoning folks are inclined that way. The matter of a little money doesn’t consarn me, but it’s the aboose of me confidence.”
Just then a man came in to inquire for a letter, and the sweet looking old lady was obliged to withdraw her attention from the freckled face before her.
During this brief interview a girl not yet out of short dresses stood behind the counter, measuring out some calico for a woman in a scoop shovel-bonnet. The girl’s face was as mirthful as Mike’s, and her black eyes twinkled with mischief. She heard all that was said, and read the youth like a book. He looked more at her than at her mother, and could not help being pleased with the lively young lady. Never at loss for an excuse in such circumstances, he waited at the front of the store, sighing as if greatly depressed, until the woman customer paid her bill, accepted the roll and walked out. Then Mike, blushing so far as it was possible to do so, moved respectfully toward the smiling attraction.
“I lost me wheelbarrer in coming up from me launch; have ye anything of the kind ye would be willing to sell to a poor orphan?”
“Will one be all you want?” asked the miss. “We can furnish you with a dozen as well as a single barrow. How much would you like to pay?”
Mike was caught. He had taken a comprehensive survey of the display outside the store before entering, and was sure that only the simplest agricultural implements were on sale. Furthermore, he had less than a silver dollar in his pockets.
“I’ll have to wait to consoolt me partners,” he replied, while nature did her best to deepen the blush on his broad countenance. “Ye see it’s them that has to do the work fur me, and it’s only fair on me side to let them have something to say about the ch’ice of tools. What do ye think yersilf?”
“I think you haven’t any wish to buy a wheelbarrow, that you haven’t the money to pay for it, and I know we haven’t one in the store—so I think further that there won’t be any sale so far as wheelbarrows are concerned.”