“Aw said swarry, some fowk call it sooary.  It means a pairty like yo’ know; it’s th’ French for a sooart ov a dooment, that’s all.”

“Oh, well, awm sooary to say ‘at booath her an’ her felly gate a invite, but tha knows we’ve noa need ta mix up wi’ sich like unless we’ve a mind.  Aw’m capt whativer made Becka ax her, for ther’s hardly a woman i’th ginnel but what had leever goa a’ mile another rooad nor meet her; but aw declare shoo’s comin’ sailin’ daan like a fifty-gun ship!  Talk abaght owd Nick, an’ he’ll show his horns.”

“Well, Zantippa I aw do declare shoo is!  Soa we mun stand it aght, but aw shall be varry reverse i’ my talk, yo’ll see.”

“Gooid morning, lasses!” said Betty, burstin’ in.  “Aw thowt awd just come daan to see what yo’ thowt o’ doing abaght this doo at th’ Cock.”  “Are ta baan Susy?”

“Yes, aw expect soa, for aw received a ‘billy duck’ the t’other day, a askin’ ov me to be present, if nothing didn’t interspect my ’rangements no otherwise.”

“Why, Susy! hang it up! sin’ tha began o’ dressmakin’ an’ wearin’ thi hair like th’ Empress Uginny, wi’ all them twists an’ twines, aw con hardly tell what tha means.  Are ta studdyin’ for a skooilmistress?”

“Nut exactualy, but yo’ see aw’ begun to talk a bit moor propperer; for when aw’ve to do wi’ th’ quality fowk, gooid talk an’ a gooid redress is one o’th requirations ‘at yo’ connot disperse wi’; but aw mun goa mi departure, for aw’ve soa mich to execute afoor neet, woll awm fair consternationed when aw think on it,—­for aw’ve noabody to help me nah, for my ‘prentice has to stop at hooam wi’ her fayther.”

“Ho, eea!  Why, what’s th’ matter wi’ him, is he badly?”

“He is; for he hurt his leg a month or two sin’, an’ he’s had to goa to th’ infirmary to get it anticipated.”

“Why, whativer’s that, Susy?”

“To get it cut off, yo’ know.  But aw munnot stop, soa, gooid day.”

An away Susy flew daan th’ ginnel, famously suited wi’ th’ way shoo’d capt ’em wi’ her scholarship.

“Well, if iver aw saw sich a flybysky as yond Susy i’ all my life, aw’ll niver be trusted.  Guy, hang it! shoo mud be as handsome as wax work, shoo thinks soa mich ov her’ sen!  But aw fancy shoo’ll ha’ to dee an owd maid, for its nooan her sooarts ’at fellies wants.  It’s all varry weel to sit nigglin’ away wi’ a needle an’ threed, stickin’ bits o’ poasies into cap screeds, an’ stich in’ mooinshine, but when a chap wants a wife, he wants somdy ‘at con brew, an’ bake, an’ scaar th’ floor.  Why, aw could whip raand hauf a duzzen sich like to my thinkin’!  An’ when aw see her screwin’ up her maath an’ dutchin, an’ settin’ her cap at ivery chap shoo sees, it maks mi blooid fair boil in me; an’ awm sure, if ther is a young chap abaght, shoo’s wor nor a worm ov a whoot bakstull.  Odd drott it! it caps me ’at fowk should have noa moor sense nor ax sich like to a party.  But ha are ta off for clooas Zantippa?  Con ta leean me a under coit?  Aw’ve all else ready.”