“And this lady,” said I, motioning with my head to the elder female, “is, I suppose, your wife.”
“She is, your haner, and the children which your haner sees are my children.”
“And who is this young lady?” said I, motioning to the uncouth-looking girl.
“The young lady, as your haner is pleased to call her, is a daughter of a sister of mine who is now dead, along with her husband. We have her with us, your haner, because if we did not she would be alone in the world.”
“And what trade or profession do you follow?” said I.
“We do a bit in the tinkering line, your haner.”
“Do you find tinkering a very profitable profession?” said I.
“Not very, your haner; but we contrive to get a crust and a drink by it.”
“That’s more than I ever could,” said I.
“Has your haner then ever followed tinkering?” said the man.