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"What do you mean by 'ate an apple'?"

"I means as a tree can't tell a lie, or eat a apple, but a woman

can tell a lie--which she does--frequent, an' as for apples--"

"But--" I began

"Eve ate a apple, didn't she?"

"The Scriptures say so," I nodded

"An' told a lie arterwards, didn't she?"

"So we are given to understand"

"Very well then!" said the Pedler, "there y' are!" and he turned

to spit into the shadow again "Wot's more," he continued,

"'twere a woht"

"How so?"

"Why, 'twere Eve as got us druv out o' the Gardin o' Eden,

weren't it? If it 'adn't been for Eve I ht ha' been livin' on

milk an' 'oney, ah! an' playin' wi' butterflies, 'stead o' bein'

married, an' peddlin' these 'ere brooms Don't talk to me o'

women, my chap; I can't abide 'em bah! if theer's any trouble

afoot you may take your Bible oath as theer's a woman about

some'eres--theer allus is!"

"Do you think so?"

"I knows so; ain't I a-'earin' an' a-seein' such all day, an'