"There’s a thought comes over me, however," said Sarah, "and ’tis about the young youth, Bartley Crocker. Mind, Constance, I’m not saying anything against him. But David’s had the man on his mind a bit of late, and perhaps you know why." "No doubt I do," said Mrs. Stanbury. "You see, Nanny Crocker have took up with Madge lately, and I believe she actually thinks as my girl be almost good enough for her boy. ’Tis a great compliment, but she’ve begun at the wrong end--curious such a clever woman as her. Margaret likes Bartley Crocker very well, as all the maidens do for that matter. A very merry chap, but terrible lazy and terrible light-minded." "You’ll not often find a young man so solid and steady as our David." "Never seed the like, Sarah. An old head on young shoulders." "I’ve said of him before, and I’ll say of him again that nought could blow David off his own bottom," declared Elias. "As to t’other chap, he may have a witty mother, but bottom--none; ballast--not a grain. A very frothy, fair-weather fellow." "What I say is, with so much open laughter there must be hidden tears. Nobody can always be in such a good temper--like a schoolboy just runned out of school," said Mrs. Stanbury. "Why, ’tis so--ever grinning and gallivanting, that chap," answered the man. "David’s built of different clay, and though your daughter may not have much to laugh at, for I’ll grant he’s a bit solemn, yet she’ll have nought to cry at; and that’s a lot more to the point." "Her nature do tend to laughter, however; I won’t hide that from you. Madge will get a bit of fun out of married life. Her very love for David will make her bright and merry as a dancing star." "Why not? Why not?" asked Mrs. Bowden. "No reason," summed up the warrener. "She’ll bring the flummery and David will bring the pudding. Leave it so. They must do the rest. And as for laughter, why, I can laugh in the right place myself, as well as any man." Mrs. Stanbury rose. "I may tell master, then, that you’m both willing and agreeable?" "Certainly you may; and when things is forwarder, David will put his prospects afore Bartholomew Stanbury all straight and clear." "’Tis a very great match for any daughter of mine, and I hope she’ll rise worthy of it." "Don’t be downcast, my dear," said Sarah. "Margaret’s as good as gold, and lucky the man that gets her, though my own son." "You speak too kind, I’m sure--both of ’e," declared Mrs. Stanbury; then she departed and her neighbours discussed her. "Never seed the like of that woman for crying ’stinking fish,’" said Mr. Bowden; and his wife admitted it. "She do make the worst of herself and her belongings without a doubt; but a good sort and better far than the puffed-up people." "Seems to go in fear whether she ought to be alive--eh?" "Yes, you might say so." Elias uttered one of his sudden chuckles. "What be laughing at?" asked his wife.