'On the contrary, I am considered a man of great learning,' he replied, with more eager self-assertion than he could hitherto have believed possible under the circumstances.
'Is't larning ye've got?' she asked, with much greater interest than she had before evinced.
'Yes; I am a man who spends his life seeking for knowledge.'
'Are ye wiser ner parson?'
'Very much wiser,' replied the man of science, with honest conviction.
She looked much more impressed than he had hoped; and thinking that he had made himself sufficiently interesting, he began to speak about her own affairs, supposing they would please her better.
'You are not a married woman?' he said, looking at her ringless hand.
'Married or no,' she replied, 'it's nowt to you.'
'I beg your pardon; everything which concerns such a beautiful woman must be of interest to me.'
At that she laughed outright in hard derision, and went on eating her bread and meat.