FRANKNESS AND GARDENING 229 



"It's not gadding I mean, mem, but here on the porch, 

 one foine night, jest before the last time Mister Blake 

 went off fer good, they was sat there some toime, so still 

 that, says I to meself , ' When they do foind spach, it'll 

 be something worth hearing!' 



" ' Do I annoy you by staying here ? Would you prefer 

 I went elsewhere ? ' says he, and well I moind the words, 

 for Oi thought an offer was on the road, and as 'twas 

 the nearest I'd been to wan, small wonder I got ex- 

 coited ! Then Miss Marie spoke up, smooth as a knife 

 cutting ice. cream, 'To speak frankly,' says she, 'you 

 do not exactly annoy me, but I'd much rather you went 

 elsewhere!' Och, but it broke me heart, the sound of 

 it!" 



