"He's twice as big and heavy as Peregrine!" she retorted. "True!" said he. "And yet friend Peregrine ain't exactly--" "Supper's ready!" she cried. "Good!" exclaimed the Tinker, rising, but his sharp eyes seemed keener than ever as he glanced from Diana's lovely, flushed face to me and back again. Then down we sat to supper as savoury as mortal palate could desire; the Tinker, having tasted, sighed and winked his approbation at me, forgetful of Diana's bright and watchful eyes. "Well, Jerry," she demanded, "how is it?" "'Twill do, lass, 'twill do," he answered; "though you've come it a leetle too strong o' the pepper and salt, to my thinking, still--it'll do. And now, friend Peregrine, I'm consarned to know what's become of all your money--" "He buys me with it," answered Diana. "Eh--bought you?" "For fourteen guineas, a florin, one groat and three pennies, Jerry!" The Tinker gulped and stared. "Lord love you, gal--what d'ye mean?" he questioned. "'T was all old Azor's doing, Jerry. She gives me to her grandson Joseph for his _mort,_ but I gives Joseph a touch of my little _churi_ and runs away and happens on Peregrine. But she follows me with Jochabed and Bennigo, that I hates more than Joseph, and she was for going to force me to take him could give most money, and Peregrine has most, so she weds me to Peregrine." "Wed you?" exclaimed the Tinker, blinking. "Aye, according to the ways o' the Folk--she weds us and leaves us. Then while I was considering about running off from Peregrine and where I should go, Peregrine goes for to run off from me, so then I followed him, of course--and here we are!" "Lord!" exclaimed the Tinker. "Lord love my eyes an' limbs--here's a pretty kettle o' fish!" "It is!" nodded Diana. "For now Peregrine wants to marry me according to the ways o' the Church!" "Hum!" said the Tinker, staring very hard at a piece of pork impaled upon his knife-point. "Ha--marriage, hey, friend Peregrine? Marriage is an oncommon serious business and you are a--leetle young for it, ain't you?" "I'm nineteen turned!" said I. "And I'm fifty and more, young friend, and never found courage for it yet--and never shall now!" Here the morsel of pork vanished and he masticated thoughtfully. "And I suppose," said he, his keen eyes flashing from me to Diana, "I suppose you'll be tellin' me as you're in love and a-dyin' for each other--" "No!" said Diana sharply. "Of course not!" said I, imitating her tone. "And never could be!" she added, frowning at the fire. "Utterly impossible!" I added, frowning at her. "Strike me pink!" ejaculated the Tinker, scratching chin with knife-handle and staring at us in ever-deepening perplexity. "Then why want to marry?" "I don't!" said Diana, with the same unnecessary vehemence. "Nor I either!" I added. "But my honour and--circumstances would seem to demand it."