"That's why I feel it. Some poor folks can have noble raiment, others can't, and drown me if I can see the why and wherefore."
"Don't talk rubbish."
"'Tis not rubbish. Hevn't Mistress got a fine new sealskin coat? Didn't she wear it to church yesterday? Didn't she look like a queen, and make all the women's eyes open as wide as saucers? And there was Maidy Susan, poor young thing, lookin' as plain as a sparrer beside her."
"Well, you wouldn't expect to see a servant-maid as fine as the Squire's wife."
"Iss, I would so, when her might be. I showed they silks and satins to Mistress, and telled her I had broughted 'em for Maidy Susan. 'No, indeed,' says she; 'quite unsuitable for a girl in her station o' life.' 'Why for, please 'm?' says I. 'Because I say so,' says she; 'I never heerd o' sech a thing.' Be-jowned if I can see why. Pretty things be fitty for pretty females, and I don't care who the man is, Maidy Susan would look as fine in 'em as Mistress do in her noble sealskin."
"Fine feathers don't make fine birds, they say," remarked Dick with a smile.
"No, nor fine coats don't make old women young and pretty. They only make 'em look fatter."
"Sam, don't be impudent."
"Bean't impedence, leastways, not meant for sech, as you know well. It be truth," insisted Sam. "Can 'ee deny it? I axe 'ee, bean't Susan a pretty maid?"
"She is, I own."