"'Listen, Robin, while I woo. This world's stale with repetition: I'll not do as others do; Haste thee, love, to my tuition. Robin, I'll make love to you, As men to other maidens do. "'Oh, what eyes my Robin hath! April fields own no such blue; In the luscious aftermath There's no flower so fair to view. Robin, Robin, hear me woo. All my soul's in love with you! "'Robin, will you marry me?-- Thus upon my knees I sue: O' my word I'll harry thee Like as men their sweethearts do. Robin, as I live I'm true: Will you wed me, Robin?--Will you?'" Now, what chanced thereupon I think thou wilt agree with me, comrade, in saying it did but serve her right. Down falls he like a ripe pomewater at her side, and takes her about the waist, and sets his mouth to hers (all in a twink, comrade; thou hadst not time to shape thy mouth for a whistle ere 'twas all done, or verily my mouth had given forth something besides whistling), and saith he, "That will I, lass; an' if thou be not my wife ere that snail-coming new moon doth thrust out her horns, my name is not Hacket, nor will thine be!" Now, comrade, though it doth shame me verily so to speak o' mine own flesh, I saw by her pretending to push him away that she did mightily relish his kisses; for, by my troth! had she sought to scuffle with him 'twould 'a' been as snug an encounter as when day and night wrestle for the last bit o' a June sky. And she saith to him, feigning to scowl, "How now, thou rapscallion! dost thou dare?" "Ay, ay," quoth he, "in verity I do!" quoth he. And in verity a did, too. But just as I was consulting with the Lord how to act, He having had even a greater experience with wayward children than myself (may He pardon me if I be too free with His holy name!)--just, I say, as I was asking Him to show me in what wise to proceed, up goes her hand, and she gives him a sound cuff o' th' ear (young Hacket's ear--not the Lord's; may He pardon me if so it sounded), and she saith, "Take that for striving to make a fool out o' an honest girl! I know thy goings on with Ruth Visor," saith she. "Thou'lt ne'er blind me with thy pretty speecheries." And a was o'er th' palings and out o' sight like a wind-blown leaf. Then did young Hacket come to th' fence and lean upon it with both his arms, and support his chin with a thumb on either side o't, and saith he,