"'Ow? There ain't much difficulty 'bout that!" she returned scornfully. "There's this sort o' thing, an' bank 'ollerdys, an' weddins, an' funerals, an' launchin' ships, an'——-"
"I wish you'd let me go with you to some of these!" I eagerly interrupted.
She looked dubiously at me for a minute, thinking I was joking, but seeing I was in earnest, remarked casually—
"Well, I don't mind ef I do, but it's a bit rough sometimes fer the likes o' you."
"Oh, I sha'n't mind," I joyfully replied. "When can I begin?"
"A friend o' mine's goin' to be married the dy after ter-morrer," she said graciously. "I could get yer an invite, if yer liked."
"Do!" was my ecstatic response. "Where shall we meet?"
"'Ere," she returned. "Yer can't go wanderin' about these streets by yerself, an' it wouldn't do fer your grand friends to see me a-knockin' at your door!"
I was trying in vain to assure her that she was quite wrong, when she suddenly rammed her hat viciously down on her head, slung her shawl round her like a woollen whirlwind, and with the brief remark, "G'night," was gone. I also soon afterwards took my leave, having first told my hostess about the proposed expedition.
She looked a little anxious, but her face cleared when she heard that Belinda Ann was coming with me.