ashion of folk be better?" saith _Milly_. "Thou seest,
_Jack_, we maids be nigh old enough for wedding, and I would fain know
the manner of man a woman were best to wed."

"Best let 'em all a-be," growls _Jack_. "Women's always snarin' o' men.
Women's bad uns. Howbeit, you lasses down at th' Hall are th' better
end, I reckon."

"Oh, thank you, _Jack_!" cries _Milly_ with much warmth. "Now do tell
me--shall I wed with a chirurgeon?"

"And take p'ison when he's had enough of you," quoth _Jack_. "Nay,
never go in for one o' them chaps. They kills folks all th' day, and
lies a-thinkin' how to do it all th' night."

"A soldier, then?" saith _Milly_.

"Hired murderers," saith _Jack_.

"Come, _Jack_, thou art hard on a poor maid. Thou wilt leave me ne'er a
one. Oh, ay, there is the parson."

"What!" shrieks forth _Jack_. "One o' they _Babylonian_ mass-mongers?
Hypocrites, wolves in sheep's clothing a-pretending for to be shepherds!
Old _'Zekiel_, he's summut to say touching them. You get home, and
just read his thirty-fourth chapter; and wed one o' them wastrels at
after, if ye can! Now then, get ye forth; I've had enough o' women. I
telled ye so."

"Fare thee well, _Jack_," quoth _Milly_ in mocking tribulation. "I see
how it is,--I shall be forced to wed a lead-miner."

I was verily thankful that _Milly_ did come away, for I could bear no
longer. We ran fast down the steep track, and once at the bottom, we
laughed till the tears ran down. When we were something composed, said
I--

"Shall we look in on old _Isaac Crewdson_?"

"Gramercy, not this morrow," quoth _Milly_. "_Jack's_ enough for one
day. Old _Isaac_ alway gives me the horrors. I cannot do with him atop
of _Jack_."

So we came home. But if _Milly_ love it not, then will I go by myself
to see old _Isaac_, for he liketh me well.

SELWICK HALL, OCTOBER YE IX.
Aunt _Joyce_ went with me yesterday to see _Isaac_. We found him of the
chimney-corner, whence he seldom stirreth, being now infirm. Old _Mary_
had but then made an end of her washing, and she was a-folding the clean
raiment to put by. I ran into the garden and gathered sprigs of
rosemary, whereof they have a fine thriving bush.

"Do tell me, _Mall_," said I, "how thou orderest matters, for to have
thy rosemary thrive thus? Our bush is right stunted to compare withal."

"I never did nought to it," quoth old _Mall_, somewhat crusti