"A fortnight ago mam," continued the Sergeant, "also towards three o'clock in the arternoon I—kissed you and the—the memory o' that kiss is never a-going to fade mam. You'll mind as I kissed you, mam?"
"Did you, Sergeant?"
"Ha' you forgot, mam?"
"Almost!" she answered softly, whereupon the Sergeant took a swift pace nearer, halted suddenly and turning away again, went on speaking:
"I kissed you for three reasons, same being as hereunder namely and viz. to wit, first because I wanted to, second because your pretty red lips was too near and too rosy to resist and third because I did mean to beg o' you to—to be—my wife."
"Did you—Zebedee?"
"I did so—then, but now I—I can't——"
"Why not—Zebedee?"
"Dooty mam, dooty forbids."
"You mean 'duty,' Sergeant," she corrected him gently.