"I don't think I did, Ancient."
"A course not!" said the—old man, with a nod of profound approval—"it aren't to be expected. Let's see, it be all o' four months since I found ye, bean't it?"
"Four months and a few odd days," I nodded, and fell to work upon my glowing iron bar:
"Ye'll make a tidy smith one o' these days, Peter," said the old man encouragingly, as I straightened my back and plunged the iron back into the fire.
"Thank you, Ancient."
"Ay—you've larned to use a 'ammer purty well, considerin', though you be wastin' your opportoonities shameful, Peter, shameful."
"Am I, Ancient?"
"Ay, that ye be—moon can't last much longer—she be on the wane a'ready!"
"Moon?" said I, staring.
"Ah, moon!" nodded the old man; "theer's nowt like a moon, Peter, an' if she be at the full so much the better."