“They have, haven’t they, Geoffrey?” continued grandfather James, as Geoffrey entered.
“Have what?” said Geoffrey.
“The men have been known not to come.”
“That they have,” said the keeper.
“Ay; I’ve knowed times when the wedding had to be put off through his not appearing, being tired of the woman. And another case I knowed was when the man was catched in a man-trap crossing Oaker’s Wood, and the three months had run out before he got well, and the banns had to be published over again.”
“How horrible!” said Fancy.
“They only say it on purpose to tease ’ee, my dear,” said Mrs. Dewy.
“’Tis quite sad to think what wretched shifts poor maids have been put to,” came again from downstairs. “Ye should hear Clerk Wilkins, my brother-law, tell his experiences in marrying couples these last thirty year: sometimes one thing, sometimes another—’tis quite heart-rending—enough to make your hair stand on end.”
“Those things don’t happen very often, I know,” said Fancy, with smouldering uneasiness.
“Well, really ’tis time Dick was here,” said the tranter.