Next he found a big black book, and lifted up the covers, and saw a rude engraving of a plant.
“Is that a magic book?” said he.
“I dunno,” she replied. “Mebbe. Granny used to read un.”
It was an old herbal.
“Can’t you read?” said Bevis.
The girl blushed and turned away.
“A’ be a lazy wench,” said the old woman. “A’ can’t read a mossel.”
“I bean’t lazy.”
“You be.”
Bevis, quite indifferent to that question, was peering into every nook and corner, but found nothing more.