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"No," I answered, "nor yet a fine leather belt with a steel

buckle em as ever was"

"Oh, it's you, is it?" said the Pedler, and forthwith Gabbing

Dick stepped out of the shadows, brooht of which the leafy tumult of his

approach was immediately accounted for "So it's you, is it?" he

repeated, setting down his brooubriously at

the nearest patch of shadow

"Yes," I answered, "but what brings you here?"

"I be goin' to sleep 'ere, host, then?"

"Oh, Lord, no! Theer be only two things as I can't abide--trees

as ain't trees is one on em, an' women's t' other"

"Women?"

"Come, didn't I 'once tell you I were married?"

"You did"

"Very well then! Trees as ain't trees is bad enough, Lord

knows!--but woht worse! Ye see, trees ain't got tongues--leastways

not as I ever heerd tell on, an' a tree never told a lie--or ate

a apple, did it?"