“‘All right,’ ses Foxy. ‘Thankee.’ “‘He’s goin’ to read it arter the funeral,’ ses ’is uncle, ‘which is the proper way to do it. I’d give anything to be there, Foxy, and see your face.’ “Those were ’is last words, but ’e laughed once or twice, and for a long time arter ’e’d gone Foxy Green sat there and wondered at ’is last words and wot there was to laugh about. “The old man was buried a few days after, and Foxy stood by the grave ’olding a ’andkerchief to ’is eyes, and behaving as though ’e ’ad lost money instead of coming in for it. Then they went back to the farm, and the first thing the schoolmaster did was to send all the women off before reading the will. “‘Wot’s that for? ’ ses Foxy, staring. “‘You’ll see,’ ses the schoolmaster; ‘them was my instructions. It’s for your sake, Mr. Green; to give you a chance—at least, that’s wot your uncle said.’ “He sat down and took out the will and put on ’is spectacles. Then ’e spread it out on the table and took a glass o’ gin and water and began to read. “It was all straightforward enough. The farm and stock, and two cottages, and money in the bank, was all left to Josiah Green, commonly called Foxy Green, on condition—— “There was such a noise o’ clapping, and patting Foxy on the back, that the schoolmaster ’ad to leave off and wait for quiet. “‘On condition,’ he ses, in a loud voice, ‘that he marries the first Claybury woman, single or widow, that asks ’im to marry her in the presence of three witnesses. If he refuses, the property is to go to ’er instead.’ “Foxy turned round like mad then, and asked Henery Walker wot ’e was patting ’im on the back for. Then, in a choking voice, he asked to ’ave it read agin. “‘Well, there’s one thing about it, Mr. Green,’ ses Henery Walker; ‘with all your property you’ll be able to ’ave the pick o’ the prettiest gals in Claybury.’ “‘’Ow’s that?’ ses Joe Chambers, very sharp; ‘he’s got to take the first woman that asks ’im, don’t matter wot ’er age is.’ “He got up suddenly, and, without even saying good-bye to Foxy, rushed out of the ’ouse and off over the fields as ’ard as ’e could go. “‘Wot’s the matter with ’im? ’ ses Foxy. “Nobody could give any answer, and they sat there staring at each other, till all of a sudden Henery Walker jumps up and goes off if anything ’arder than wot Joe Chambers had done. “‘Anything wrong with the drink?’ ses Foxy, puzzled like. “They shook their ’eads agin, and then Peter Gubbins, who’d been staring ’ard with ’is mouth open, got up and gave the table a bang with ’is fist. “‘Joe Chambers ’as gone arter ’is sister,’ he ses, ‘and Henery Walker arter ’is wife’s sister, as ’e’s been keeping for this last six months. That’s wot they’ve gone for.’ “Everybody saw it then, and in two minutes Foxy and the schoolmaster was left alone looking at each other and the empty table. “‘Well, I’m in for a nice thing,’ ses Foxy. ‘Fancy being proposed to by Henery Walker’s sister-in-law! Ugh!’