d! Why, tha owt to ha getten a hat
as big as a umbrella for that price."

"Well, if yo hadn't wanted me to have it yo shouldn't ha sed soa."

"Aw did want thi to have it, but it's price aw connot get ovver. Why it
weighs nowt hardly. Its cost aboon five shillin an aance. Thee goa in an
show it to thi mother an aw'll goa an get summat to steady mi narves."

Sammywell tried to keep his spirits up wi puttin some spirits daan, but
he couldn't manage it, an it wor wi fear an tremblin at he lifted th'
sneck when he went hooam. All lukt breet an cheerful an th' supper wor
on th' table, an Mally's face showed noa sign o' ill temper. "Thank
gooidness," he sed to hissen, "shoo hasn't been upstairs to caant th'
brass yet."

"Come thi ways to thi supper, Sammywell, aw wor gettin uneasy abaat
thi."

"Has Hepsabah been?" he axt.

"Eeah. An shoo's shown me her new hat, an aw must say aw didn't gie thi
credit for havin sich gooid taste. Shoo's famously suited, an awm
pleeased to think tha's acted as a father should act for once. Aw do
believe if tha could nobbut live long enuff aw should be able to mak a
daycent chap on thi at th' finish."

"Did shoo say owt abaght what it cost?"

"Nay shoo didn't, an aw nivver axt her, for aw know tha'd nooan be
likely to give mich; but if aw thowt aw could get one like it for owt
under five an twenty shillin awd be after one i'th mornin."

"Well, but tha connot,--for ther's nivver been but one made o' that
pattern."

"Ther'd happen be one ov another pattern to suit me."

"Ther's noa moor ov onny sooart whativver; for th' chap at keeps that
shop is gooin to retire from business to-neet an start a bank i'th
mornin,--an noa wonder."

"Onnybody'd think to listen to thi at tha didn't thoil it. Aw know ha
mich brass tha tuk wi thi an if tha's spent it all, what bi that! Tha
doesn't buy thi dowter a hat ivvery wick! an its far cheaper to buy a
daycent article nor to squander yor brass on a lot o' rubbish. Shoo's
varry careful ov her clooas is Hepsabah, an tha'll see it'll ha lasted
weel bi th' time tha gooas to buy her another."

"That's a moral sartainty. If that hat lasts her wol aw buy her another
it'll last a long time."

"Say noa moor abaat it. Tha's suited us an if tha hasn't suited thisen
its thi own fault. Aw thowt tha desarved a bit ov a treeat soa aw
fotched thi a drop o' thi favourite, an if tha doesn't want it all
thisen aw dooant mind havin a drop."

"That's all reight, Mall