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"What news?" said I, turning

"S'prisin' noos it be--ah! an' 'stonishin' tu But first of all,

Peter, I wants to ax 'ee a question"

"What is it, Ancient?"

"Why, it be this, Peter," said the oldup into my face, "ever since the tiht as theer was suentle ways; an' it came on me all at once

--about three o' the clock's arternoon, as you uise, Peter Come now, be ye a dook or bean't ye--yes

or ne, Peter?" and he fixed ; "I'm no duke"

"Ah well!--a earl, then?"

"Nor an earl"

"A barrynet, p'r'aps?"

"Not even a baronet"

"Ah!" said the old ht be one or t' other of 'em 'specially since 'bout

three o' the clock 's arternoon"

"Why so?"

"Why, that's the p'int--that's the very noos as I've got to tell

'ee," chuckled the Ancient, as he seated hian, with an impressive rap on the

lid of his snuffbox, "'bout three o'clock 's arternoon I were

sittin' on the stile by Si the

road co, an' as fine as

fine could be, a-ridin' of a 'orse, an' wi' a servant ridin'