"Eh? Was he then? I must get me back. Here, hold down thy hand; I've brought thee some tobacco. I know thou'rt converted, parson, and can smoke." "I'll come down, if I can convert thee, Wat Kilby." "Convert me, Master Peasegood; why, what's amiss with me?" "Amiss, thou wicked old reprobate? Why thou'rt an open sinner, and never com'st to church." "Eh, but I would if thou'dst let me smoke my pipe by the open door." "Then you are repenting of your evil ways." "Nay, I've nothing to repent of, but a love or two." "And spiriting away poor Abel Churr." "Nay, parson, I never did; I wish I had," growled Wat. "Then that's as bad." "Nay, parson, don't preach; I arn't a bad 'un after all. I always tries, and gets along pretty well for a time, but, just as I've got as perfect as can be, down comes the devil with a pretty girl, and then I'm done." "Out upon thee, Wat Kilby, my cheeks burn with shame." "Ay, it do make the cheeks burn, parson. But it always was so, parson, and that's the devil's way. He always did serve me so, and you may preach at me and preach, and preach, and preach, but unless you can preach all the pretty women off the earth, if you're right in what you say, I'm sartain to be burnt." "But you must resist the devil and he'll flee, Wat Kilby." "Nay: not he, parson. He knows his man too well. There, it's all no good. Reach down thy hand--got it. That's well." "Thanks, Wat Kilby. Man, it is a goodly offering of the precious weed." "Thou and the king said it was devilish poison." "Ah, um, yes; but my ideas are being modified, my man. And now what does this mean?" "Well, you see, parson, it's all about a woman I have come." "Is this a time man to speak about a wedding?" "Yes, parson; when you have to go by orders." "Well speak out quick, for the night is chill." "I will, parson. It's like this: I love pretty Mistress Janet at the Pool." "For a grandchild, Wat Kilby?" "Nay, master; for a wife. I wanted to get speech of her, but could not get me near. Tell her, and keep thy eye on her as well, that Wat Kilby han't forgot, and will come back and wed her." "Well man, well?" "And I ask thee, parson, not to wed her to any other man." "But man, how can I help--" "Why, forbid it all, and I'll sattle down to be a better man and come to church when I be not at sea. Sometimes I'll come and sit in the porch o' Sunday afternoons. And now I must hasten to catch the skipper. Tell her from me, parson, Wat Kilby will come and make her an honest woman, and be true; and now good night." "Here, stop, you vile old sinner!" cried Master Peasegood, but he only heard old Wat Kilby striding rapidly away, and after listening for a few moments he closed the lattice with a slam. "The place gets worse the more I preach," he cried, angrily. "Master and man. A nice charge, verily--but Wat and that Janet! My preaching must be stronger, yet. That wicked wench!"