"One shillin' and sixpence!" said he, which sum I duly paid over. "Don't," he continued, pocketing the money, and turning to Charmian, "don't go spilin' things by lettin' this young cove go a-marryin' an' a-churchin' ye—nobody never got married as didn't repent it some time or other, an' wot's more, when Marriage comes in at the door, Love flies out up the chimbley—an' there y'are! Now, if you loves this young cove, w'y, very good! if this 'ere young cove loves you—which ain't to be wondered at—so much the better, but don't—don't go a-marryin' each other, an'—as for the children—" "Come—I'll take a belt—give me a belt!" said I, more hastily than before. "A belt?" said the Pedler. "A belt, yes." "Wi' a fine steel buckle made in—" "Yes—yes!" said I. "Two shillin' an' sixpence!" said the Pedler. "When I saw you last time, you offered much the same belt for a shilling," I demurred. "Ah!" nodded the Pedler, "but belts is riz—'arf-a-crown's the price—take it or leave it." "It's getting late," said I, slipping the money into his hand, "and I'll wish you good night!" "You're in a 'urry about it, ain't you?" "Yes." "Ah—to be sure!" nodded the fellow, looking from me to Charmian with an evil leer, "early to bed an'—" "Come—get off!" said I angrily. "Wot—are ye goin' to turn me away—at this time o' night!" "It is not so far to Sissinghurst!" said I: "But, Lord! I wouldn't disturb ye—an' there's two rooms, ain't there?" "There are plenty of comfortable beds to be had at 'The Bull.'" "So you won't gi'e me a night's shelter, eh?" "No," I answered, greatly annoyed by the fellow's persistence. "An' you don't want to buy nothin' for the young woman—a necklace—or, say—a pair o' garters?" But here, meeting my eye, he shouldered his brooms hastily and moved off. And, after he had gone some dozen yards or so, he paused and turned. "Very well then!" he shouted, "I 'opes as you gets your 'ead knocked off—ah!—an' gets it knocked off soon!" Having said which, he spat up into the air towards me, and trudged off. CHAPTER XIV CONCERNING BLACK GEORGE'S LETTER It was with a feeling of great relief that I watched the fellow out of sight; nevertheless his very presence seemed to have left a blight upon all things, for he, viewing matters with the material eye of Common-sense, had, thereby, contaminated them—even the air seemed less pure and sweet than it had been heretofore, so that, glancing over my shoulder, I was glad to see that Charmian had re-entered the cottage.