I reckon 'twas all
quignogs, but et _did_ luk plaguey like th' evil eye, an' that
there's no denyin'.
"Well, sir, matters went on i' this way for a brave time, an' the
'tendance got less, till Lawyer Mennear wos fairly at hes wits' end.
He talked a' weak-kneed brethren, an' 'puttin' your han's to the
plough,' an' dreshed the pilm [2] out o' cush'n afore 'un, an'
kicked up a purty dido, till you cou'd hear the randivoose o' Sunday
mornin's 'way over t'other side o' Carne hill; but 'twarn't no manner
o' good. An' as for the childer at the Sunday-school--th' ould
rapscallion laid powerful store by hes Sunday-school--'twas 'bear a
hand ivery wan' to get mun to face that eye: an' you mou't clane
their faces an' grease their hair as you wou'd, the mothers told me,
an' see mun off 'pon the road to Meetin' House; but turn your back,
an' they'd be mitchin' [3] in a brace o' shakes an' 'way to go for
Coombe beach, an' playin' hidey-peep in their clane pinnyfores 'mong
the rocks.
"Aw, 'twas shee-vo! 'mong the Church Members, an' no mistake; an' how
'twud ha' come round, there's no telling, ef et hadn' a-been for what
Lawyer Mennear called a vouchsafement o' marcy. An' the way thicky
vouchsafement comed about was this:
"Th' ould man was up to Plymouth wan day 'bout some shares he'd a-tuk
in a tradin' schooner; for he'd a finger in most pies.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124