“Long enough,” said the priest shortly.
“I believe you! If you wasn’t glad to get your back turned, you liked a tussle wi’ a dragon better nor most folks. Was she white-hot, or no-but (Only) red? El’nor, she came down to me while you was in there, wi’ a hunch o’ bread and cheese, and she said it were gettin’ smoother a bit nor it had been most part o’ th’ day. What said she to you?”
“Less than I said to her.”
“You dunnot mean she hearkened you?”
“Not at first. But in the end, she hearkened me, and made me no answer.”
Dan looked his visitor all over from head to foot.
“Well!” said he, and shook his head slowly. “Well!” and wiped his face with his apron, “Well!” he exclaimed a third time. “If I’d ha’ knowed! I’d ha’ given forty marks (Note 1.) to see th’ like o’ that. Eh, do ’bide a minute, and let me take th’ measure on you! T’ chap that could strike our Filomena dumb mun ha’ come straight fro’ Heaven, for there isn’t his like o’ earth! Now, Father, do just tell a body, what did you say to her?”
“I told her how to be happy.”
Dan stared. “She wants no tellin’ that, I’ll go bail! she’s got every mortal thing her own way.”
“That is not the way to be happy,” answered the priest. “Nay, my son, she is a most unhappy woman, and her face shows it. Thou art happier far than she.”