“Twopence he paid, your worship, and then he wanted to crack ’em and couldn’t do it. He couldn’t wi’ his teeth, nor in his fist. If your worship will be pleased to try on the desk, you’ll find how hard the nuts be.” “Go on, and to the point.” “You see, Rose, she’s got a wonderful fancy for nuts”-- “Who may Rose be?” “Her’s the beautifullest maid in Coombe-in-Teignhead--red cheeks as she ought to have, being called Rose; and as for twinkling eyes”-- “Never mind a description; what is the other name?” “Rose Ash. She is here, sir, looking on and blushing.” “We’ll call her presently. Proceed with your story.” “Rose, she wanted Noah to crack the nuts, and he hadn’t a hammer, nor a stone, so”-- “He broke them on your head?” “No, sir, he broke my head with the nuts.” “Oh, that is the rights of the story, is it? You objected, and a fight ensued?” “He’d undertaken to crack the nuts for Rose, sir.” Then, turning to Flood, “That’s about it, ain’t it, Noah? Shake hands; we’re old friends.” “I agrees with everything as my friend Jan Pooke said. He puts it beautiful,” said Flood. “Step aside, John Pooke,” said the magistrate; “we will now hear what the other fellow has to say.” Nothing, however, was to be extracted from Flood but that he agreed with Jan, and Jan could speak better than he. He referred himself to Jan. Jan knew all about it, and he himself was so bewildered that he could not remember much, but as Jan spoke, all came out clear. As to the Brazil nuts, he had them in his hand, and it was true he “had knocked Jan on the head wi’ ’em. If the gentleman would overlook it this time, he hoped no offence; but he’d buy no more Brazil nuts--never as long as he lived.” “Call Rose Ash!” said the justice. “Perhaps she can throw some light on this matter.” Rose was in court, and was soon in the witness-box, looking very pretty, and very conscious that the eyes of every one in the place were on her. She kissed the New Testament with a glance round of her twinkling eyes that said as plain as words, “Would not every young fellow in this room like to be in the place of the book?” “It was all the fault of Kitty Alone,” said Rose. “We were in peace and comfort till she came meddling and setting one against another; just like her--the minx!” “And who, if you please, is Kitty Alone?” “Kitty Quarm. There never would have been any unpleasantness unless she had poked her nose in. Me and Jan Pooke drove to the fair, and then up comes Kitty and will interfere and be disagreeable.” “Constable, send for Catherine Quarm,” ordered the magistrate. “I presume she is not far off. Go on, Miss Ash, and tell us precisely the cause of the quarrel.” “That is more than I can undertake to do. All I know is that Kitty was at the bottom of it.” “How do you know that?” “Every one who knows Kitty knows that she is a mischief-maker. Nasty, meddlesome toad!” “Rose, this is spite, and nothing more,” exclaimed Jan.