"Cut up? Not a bit o' him! Why, he's quite perky; he think as you has gone to the country."
"Oh Pickles! how hever could he?"
"Well, listen, and I'll tell yer."
Pickles here related his whole interview, not forgetting to reproduce in full all his own clever speeches, and his intense admiration for Connie.
"I'd do a great deal fur you, Cinderella," he said in conclusion; "fur though ye're as ordinary a woman as I hiver met, yet still yer belongs to the species, and I has a weakness fur the species; but oh, lor'! ef it had been that 'ere Connie, why, I'd have a'most spilt my life-blood fur that hangelic creature."
"Well, yer see, it wor only me," said Sue, not a little piqued.
"Yes, it wor only you. But now, wot do you think of it all?"
"Oh! I'm wery glad and thankful that Giles is wid Connie. He wor halways fond of Connie, and I'm real pleased as he thinks as I'm gone to the country—that 'ull satisfy him ef hanythink will, fur he have sech a longing fur it, poor feller! But oh, Pickles! I do hope as you didn't tell him no lies, to make him so keen upon it."
"No—not I. I only nodded and made-believe as he wor clever. No, I wor careful o' the utterances o' the tongue, which is an unruly member."
"Well, I'm glad," said Sue. "I only hope as it ain't wrong to deceive him."