“Have you heard anything of the apparition which has been seen about Wineholm-place?” said the dominie.
“Na, I never heard o’ sic a thing, as yet,” quoth the smith; “but I wadna wonder muckle that the news should turn out to be true.”
The dominie shook his head, and muttered, “h’m—h’m—h’m,” as if he knew more than he was at liberty to tell.
“Weel, that beats the world,” said the smith, as he gave up blowing the bellows, and looked over the spectacles at the dominie’s face.
The dominie shook his head again.
The smith was now in the most ticklish quandary; eager to learn particulars, and spread the astounding news through the whole village, and the rest of the parish to boot, but yet afraid to press the inquiry, for fear the cautious dominie should take the alarm of being reported as a tattler, and keep all to himself. So the smith, after waiting till the windpipe of the great bellows ceased its rushing noise, and he had covered the gloss neatly up with a mixture of small coals, culm, and cinders; and then, perceiving that nothing more was forthcoming from the dominie, he began blowing again with more energy than before—changed his hand—put the other sooty one into his breeches-pocket—leaned to the horn—looked in a careless manner towards the window, or rather gazed on vacancy, and always now and then stole a sly look at the dominie’s face. It was quite immovable. His cheek was leaned upon his open hand, and his eyes fixed on the glowing fire.
It was very teasing for poor Clinkum, the smith. But what could he do? He took out his glowing iron, and made a shower of fire sweep through the whole smithy, whereof a good part, as intended, sputtered upon the dominie, but he only shielded his face with his elbow, turned his shoulder half round and held his peace. Thump—thump! clink—clink! went the hammer for a space; and then, when the iron was returned to the fire, “Weel, that beats the world!” quoth the smith.
“What is this that beats the world, Mr Clinkum?” said the dominie, with the most cool and provoking indifference.
“This story about the apparition,” quoth the smith.
“What story?” said the dominie.