He's well
knowed to be so handsome as Apollyon."
Peter Hacker got singing smaller and smaller then.
"'Tis a thousand pities the wretched fellow can't be kept away."
"For your sake it is, without a doubt--a thousand pities," admitted
Charity. "She loves you very well, and a good wife she'll make--and a
thrifty--but she won't trust herself if that man's curly hair and blue
eyes turn up here again."
"Is it to be done--can we keep him off--pay him off--bribe him--anything?"
"Now you talk sense. There's very few things can't be done in this world,
Mr. Hacker, if you get a determined man and a determined woman pulling the
same way. Man's strength and woman's wit together--what's ever been known
to stand against 'em?"
"Help me, then," he said.
"Me! You want me to help--with my 'tomfoolery'?"
She roasted him proper for a bit, then came to business.
"I can't work for nought, and since 'tis the whole of your future life
that depends upon it, I reckon you'll be generous. If I succeed I shall
look to you for thirty pound, Peter Hacker; if I fail, I'll ax for
nothing. Still, I do believe I may be able to get you out of this, though
'twill call for oceans of trouble."
He tried to haggle, but she'd none of that--wouldn't bate her offer by a
shilling. So he came to it.
"Thirty pound I must have the day you marry Mary," she said.
Pages:
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251