"Go to, _Jack_: it signifies not that," _Milly_ makes answer. "Saint _Paul_ meant that the law of God was given for the sake of ill men, not good men. The laws of _England_ be other matter." "Get out wi' ye!" saith _Jack_. "Do ye think I wis not what _Paul_ means as well as a woman? It says th' law, and it means th' law. And if he'd signified as you say, he'd have said as th' law wasn't given again' a righteous man, not to him. You gi'e o'er comin' a-rumpagin' like yon." For me, I scarce knew which way to look, to let me from laughing. But _Milly_ goes on, sad as any judge. "Well, but if lawyers be thus bad, _Jack_--though my sister's husband is a lawyer, mind thou--" "He's a rascal, then!" breaks in _Jack_. "They're all rascals, every wastrel [an unprincipled, good-for-nothing fellow] of 'em." "But what fashion of folk be better?" saith _Milly_. "Thou seest, _Jack_, we maids be nigh old enough for wedding, and I would fain know the manner of man a woman were best to wed." "Best let 'em all a-be," growls _Jack_. "Women's always snarin' o' men. Women's bad uns. Howbeit, you lasses down at th' Hall are th' better end, I reckon." "Oh, thank you, _Jack_!" cries _Milly_ with much warmth. "Now do tell me--shall I wed with a chirurgeon?" "And take p'ison when he's had enough of you," quoth _Jack_. "Nay, never go in for one o' them chaps. They kills folks all th' day, and lies a-thinkin' how to do it all th' night." "A soldier, then?" saith _Milly_. "Hired murderers," saith _Jack_. "Come, _Jack_, thou art hard on a poor maid. Thou wilt leave me ne'er a one. Oh, ay, there is the parson." "What!" shrieks forth _Jack_. "One o' they _Babylonian_ mass-mongers? Hypocrites, wolves in sheep's clothing a-pretending for to be shepherds! Old _'Zekiel_, he's summut to say touching them. You get home, and just read his thirty-fourth chapter; and wed one o' them wastrels at after, if ye can! Now then, get ye forth; I've had enough o' women. I telled ye so." "Fare thee well, _Jack_," quoth _Milly_ in mocking tribulation. "I see how it is,--I shall be forced to wed a lead-miner." I was verily thankful that _Milly_ did come away, for I could bear no longer. We ran fast down the steep track, and once at the bottom, we laughed till the tears ran down. When we were something composed, said I-- "Shall we look in on old _Isaac Crewdson_?" "Gramercy, not this morrow," quoth _Milly_. "_Jack's_ enough for one day. Old _Isaac_ alway gives me the horrors. I cannot do with him atop of _Jack_." So we came home. But if _Milly_ love it not, then will I go by myself to see old _Isaac_, for he liketh me well.