"Except in the way of friendship," said Mixet. "I'm just as sick of all this as a man can be," said Mr. Ruggles, who was sitting low in his chair, with his back bent, and his head forward. "I won't put up with it no more." "Who wants you to put up with it?" said Ruby. "Who wants 'em to come here with their trash? Who brought 'em to-night? I don't know what business Mr. Mixet has interfering along o' me. I never interfere along o' him." "John Crumb, have you anything to say?" asked the old man. Then John Crumb slowly arose from his chair, and stood up at his full height. "I hove," said he, swinging his head to one side. "Then say it." "I will," said he. He was still standing bolt upright with his hands down by his side. Then he stretched out his left to his glass which was half full of beer, and strengthened himself as far as that would strengthen him. Having done this he slowly deposited the pipe which he still held in his right hand. "Now speak your mind, like a man," said Mixet. "I intends it," said John. But he still stood dumb, looking down upon old Ruggles, who from his crouched position was looking up at him. Ruby was standing with both her hands upon the table and her eyes intent upon the wall over the fire-place. "You've asked Miss Ruby to be your wife a dozen times;--haven't you, John?" suggested Mixet. "I hove." "And you mean to be as good as your word?" "I do." "And she has promised to have you?" "She hove." "More nor once or twice?" To this proposition Crumb found it only necessary to bob his head. "You're ready,--and willing?" "I om." "You're wishing to have the banns said without any more delay?" "There ain't no delay 'bout me;--never was." "Everything is ready in your own house?" "They is." "And you will expect Miss Ruby to come to the scratch?" "I sholl." "That's about it, I think," said Joe Mixet, turning to the grandfather. "I don't think there was ever anything much more straightforward than that. You know, I know, Miss Ruby knows all about John Crumb. John Crumb didn't come to Bungay yesterday,--nor yet the day before. There's been a talk of five hundred pounds, Mr. Ruggles." Mr. Ruggles made a slight gesture of assent with his head. "Five hundred pounds is very comfortable; and added to what John has will make things that snug that things never was snugger. But John Crumb isn't after Miss Ruby along of her fortune." "Nohow's," said the lover, shaking his head and still standing upright with his hands by his side. "Not he;--it isn't his ways, and them as knows him'll never say it of him. John has a heart in his buzsom." "I has," said John, raising his hand a little above his stomach. "And feelings as a man. It's true love as has brought John Crumb to Sheep's Acre farm this night;--love of that young lady, if she'll let me make so free. He's a proposed to her, and she's a haccepted him, and now it's about time as they was married. That's what John Crumb has to say."