“There, now, you’ve said it, you see, and it isn’t so difficult.”

“There’s no colour in it,” said Irish Peggy.

“Wouldn’t you like, Peggy, to be a little lady some day?”

“That’s the worst of me; I don’t want it at all. I’d a sight rayther be wan of the common people. That’s what I’m afther wishin’ for.”

“You mustn’t say ‘afther wishin’ for;’ you must say, ‘that’s what I wish.’”

“An’ what’s wrong in ‘afther,’ Miss—Mary, I mane.”

“It isn’t good English, dear.”

“Oh, bedad!”

“You mustn’t say ‘bedad.’ That’s quite wrong.”

“I’d best be dumb, hadn’t I, miss?”