"You'll laugh," he said sitting down and lighting his pipe.
"I ain't in a very laughing temper," I answered, "and if I laugh at
anything you say, it will be the first time in your life I ever have
done."
"Dry up," he said, "and listen. I've just come for a bit of a tell with
Minnie Parable."
Then I forgot myself.
"To hell with Minnie Parable!" I cried out. "I don't want to hear nothing
about that misbegot vixen."
For once Rupert was astonished, but he weren't so astonished as me a
minute later.
"I'm sorry you take that view," he replied; "because she'll be your
daughter-in-law in six weeks. I be going to marry her."
I never can stand more'n one shock a day, and now I felt myself getting
out of hand terrible fast. But I drawed in a deep breath of air and fell
on my chair.
"There's a good deal more in that woman than meets the eye," went on
Rupert. "Her face would frighten a hedge-pig, no doubt, and her shape be
mournful; but I ain't one to marry for decorations. She's a woman, and she
can cook and she knows the value of money, and also knows my opinions on
that subject. I didn't find her a bad sort by no means. She's got sense
and she ain't a gadder, and would rather work than play, same as me."
"But her temper, Rupert, her famous temper," I murmured to the man, "and
her woeful, craakin voice."
"Nobody won't hear no more about her famous temper," he said, "not after
she's married me.
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