“Her’s the beautifullest maid in Coombe-in-Teignhead--red cheeks as she ought to have, being called Rose; and as for twinkling eyes”--
“Never mind a description; what is the other name?”
“Rose Ash. She is here, sir, looking on and blushing.”
“We’ll call her presently. Proceed with your story.”
“Rose, she wanted Noah to crack the nuts, and he hadn’t a hammer, nor a stone, so”--
“He broke them on your head?”
“No, sir, he broke my head with the nuts.”
“Oh, that is the rights of the story, is it? You objected, and a fight ensued?”
“He’d undertaken to crack the nuts for Rose, sir.” Then, turning to Flood, “That’s about it, ain’t it, Noah? Shake hands; we’re old friends.”
“I agrees with everything as my friend Jan Pooke said. He puts it beautiful,” said Flood.