“‘Shut your eyes and open your mouth, as if Foxy was a powder,’ ses Henery Walker.
“‘I can’t,’ ses Flora, turning to her mother. ‘I can’t and I won’t.’
“‘Flora Pottle,’ ses ’er mother, firing up.
“‘I won’t,’ ses Flora, firing up too; ‘you’ve been bothering me all day long for ever so long, and I won’t. I ’ate the sight of ’im. He’s the ugliest man in Claybury.’
“Mrs. Pottle began to cry and say that she’d disgraced ’er; but Foxy Green looked at ’er and ’e ses, ‘Very well, Flora Pottle, then we’ll say no more about it. Good evening.’
“‘Good evening,’ ses Mrs. Pottle, getting up and giving Flora a shake. ‘Come along, you tantalising mawther, do. You’ll die an old maid, that’s what you’ll do.’
“‘That’s all you know,’ ses Flora, smiling over at George Smith; ‘but if you’re so fond o’ Mr. Green why don’t you ask ’im yourself? He can’t say “No.”’
“For half a minute the room was as quiet as a grave, and the on’y thing that moved was Foxy Green’s eyes as he looked fust at the door at the other end of the room and then at the window.
“‘Lor’ bless my soul!’ ses Mrs. Pottle, in a surprised voice. ‘I never thought of it.’
“She sat down agin and smiled at Foxy as if she could eat ’im.