'Well, of course there's some truth in that, sir,' said his faithful friend, reluctantly obliged by her conscience to say what she thought.
'Just so, Mrs. Sims,' said the schoolmaster with a patient sigh; 'and therefore, perhaps it will be unnecessary to discuss the subject further.'
'Still, there's no accounting for tastes; there might be some found that would.'
'It would not be necessary to find more than one,' said he, with a quiet smile.
'No, that's true, sir, which makes the matter rather easier. It's always been my belief that while there is life there is hope.'
'True, true,' he replied; and then he indulged in a long fit of musing, which she more than suspected had little to do with the immediate bearing of the subject on his present case. It was necessary to rouse him, for there was no time to be lost.
'Of course I don't say that there's many that would have you; there's girls enough—but laws! they'd all make game of you if you were to go a-courting to them, and, I take it, courting's not the sort of thing you're cleverest at.'
'True,' said the schoolmaster again, and again he sighed.
'But now, a good sensible woman, like Miss Blakely, as would keep you and your house clean and tidy, not to speak of cooking—I make bold to say you couldn't do better than to get such a one, if she might be so minded.'
'Who is Miss Blakely?' he asked wonderingly.