"To be exact, I don't know, Ancient."
"Oh, Peter!" exclaimed the old man, shaking his head, "I wonders at ye; arter me a-thinkin' an' a-thinkin', an' a-plannin' an' a-plannin' all these months—arter me a-sendin' Black Jarge about 'is business—"
"Ancient, what do you mean?"
"Why, didn't I out an' tell un as you was sweet on Prue—"
"Did you tell him that?" I cried.
"Ay, to be sure I did; an' what's more, I says to un often an' often, when you wasn't by: 'Jarge,' I'd say, 'Prue's a lovely maid, an' Peter's a fine young chap, an' they 'm beginnin' to find each other out, they be all'us a-talkin' to each other an' a-lookin' at each other, mornin', noon an' night!' I says; 'like as not we'll 'ave 'em marryin' each other afore very long!' an' Jarge 'ud just wrinkle up 'is brows, an' walk away, an' never say a word. But now—it be tur'ble 'ard to be disapp'inted like this, Peter arter I'd set my 'eart on it—an' me such a old man such a very ancient man. Oh, Peter! you be full o' disapp'intments, an' all manner o' contrariness; sometimes I a'most wishes as I'd never took the trouble to find ye at all!"
And, with this Parthian shot, the old man sighed, and turned his back upon me, and tottered out of the forge.
CHAPTER XXIII
HOW GABBING DICK, THE PEDLER, SET A HAMMER GOING IN MY HEAD
Having finished my bars, with four strong brackets to hold them, I put away my tools, and donned hat and coat.