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"Why not?"

"'Cause, it so 'appened as she married summun else"

"And the second?"

"The second were a fine, pretty maid tu, but I couldn't marry

she"

"Why?"

"'Cause, Peter, she went an' took an' died afore I could ax 'er"

"And the third, you married"

"No, Peter, though it co in the end--she

h I were allus at 'er beck an' call, I

could never pluck the courage to up an' ax 'er right out So

things went on for a year or so, s, Peter--'Martin,' says she, lookin' at

me sideways out of 'er black eyes--just like Prue's they were

--'Martin,' says she, 'you 's?'

'For sure,' says I, which I were, Peter 'Martin,' says she,

'shouldn't 'ee like to eat of 'em whenever you wanted to, at your

very own table, in a cottage o' your own?' 'Ah! if you'd mak'

'em!' says I, sharp like 'I would if you'd ax me, Martin,' says