"Mayhap it is; I wouldn't be for saying no to that."
"So that's the time o' day, is it?" The speaker gave a prolonged whistle and turned a suggestive glance into the faces of his companions. "Well, I allus says to my old woman, 'Bide quiet,' I says, 'and it'll leak out,' and sure enough, so it has."
The landlady fired up.
"And I allus says to your missus, 'Mistress Sturgis,' I says, 'it do make me that wexed to see a man a-prying into other people's business and a-talking and a-scandalizing, which it is bad in a woman, where you expects no better, as the saying is, but it ain't no ways bearsome in a man—and I wish you'd keep him,' I says, 'from poking his nose, as you might say, into other people's pewters.' There—that's what I allus says to your missis."
"And very perwerse of you, too," said the worthy addressed, speaking with the easy good-nature of one who could afford to be rated. "And wot's to prevent me having a screw of twist on the strength of it," putting a penny on the counter.
The landlady threw down the paper of tobacco, picked up the penny, and cast it into the till.
"On'y, as I say, there's no use denying now as Mister Paul Drayton has a finger in the young missy's pie."
"There, that's enough o' that. I told you afore she never set eyes on him till a fortnight come Sunday."
Two women came into the bar with jugs.
"And how is the young missy?" asked the elder of the two, catching up the conversation as the landlady served her.