“Ah! so ur be,” replied the farmer, turning it over several times. “Why,” he continued, “here be a b—
and a u, beant it? See if that beant a u, Miss, your eyes be better un mine; they be younger.”
“O yes, that’s a u,” said Miss Prettyface, “and an m.”
“And that spell bum.”
“But stop,” said Miss Prettyface, “here’s a p.”
“That’s bump,” said Mrs. Oldtimes; “we shall get at something presently.”
“Why,” exclaimed Bumpkin, “I be danged if I doant think it be my old ’ooman’s writin’: but I beant sure. That be the way ur twists the tail of ur y’s and g’s, I’ll swear; and lookee ’ere, beant this k i n?”
“I think it is,” said the maid.
“Ah, then, thee med be sure that be Bumpkin, and the letter be for I.”
“Yes,” said the young lady, “and that other word which looks more like Grouse is meant for Goose, the sign of the house.”