Certainly she breathed much harder than usual.
At last, to my profound astonishment, she suddenly sat down, threw her
apron over her face and burst into unrestrained laughter.
'Compose yourself, my good girl,' I said, anxious lest the family
should overhear, 'what is the matter?'
'I got an idea,' she said as soon as she had recovered. 'It aint 'arf
a bad one. You say you want to know wot it is Miss Marryun likes about
you?'
'I do, indeed,' I said eagerly.
'Well, I can tell you that right away. It's your towsled look, so to
speak. Only the other day she ses to me, she ses, "Wot I like about
Mr. Roarings is the rough kind o' suits 'e wears, them baggy trousis,
an' also 'is great clompin' boots. I like the free an' easy way 'e
throws 'is feet up to the ledge of the mantelpiece," she ses, "an' the
way 'e 'as of wearin' 'is 'air 'anging all about 'is ears,
shaggy-like."'
'Incredible!' I exclaimed.
'An' only yesterday she stood on this very spot where you are now and
ses to me, thoughtful like: "Don't you love a man with a heavy beard
an' moustarch--like Mr. Roarings, f'r instance?" she ses.'
'"Well, miss, since you put the question to me," I ses plain out; "I'm
not parshul to either, though I've 'ad young men with 'em, singly and
both together. I prefers 'em entirely without, but beggars can't be
choosers, can they?"
'Then Miss Marryun said thoughtful like: "I think I'm rather different
from other wimmin, Elizabeth.
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