The Parson O' Dumford. Fenn George Manville

on a plate.

      “Just put them i’ the oven to keep hot for Daisy, wilt ta, my lass?” said Joe.

      “She won’t want any supper,” said Mrs Banks, tartly, but she placed the plate in the oven all the same, and after pouring out some tea, set the teapot on the hob.

      “But she may, my lass, she may,” said Joe. “Now, tell us what’s wrong,” he continued, with his mouth full, after pouring a large steaming cup of tea down his capacious throat.

      “Tom Podmore’s been here,” said Mrs Banks. “Only just gone. Didn’t you meet him?”

      “No,” said Joe. “Didn’t he say nowt about the row?”

      “Not a word,” said Mrs Banks, looking up. “Was he in it?”

      “Just was,” said Joe. “Saved me and the Maister from being knocked to pieces a’most. He’s a good plucky chap, is Tom.”

      “Yes, and nicely he gets treated for it,” said Mrs Banks, hotly.

      “Who treats him nicely?” said Joe, with half a slice of bread and butter disappearing.

      “You – Daisy – everybody.”

      “Self included, my lass!” said Joe. “He allus was a favourite of yours.”

      “Favourite, indeed!” said Mrs Banks. “Joe, mark my words – It’ll come home to Daisy for jilting him as she’s done; and, as I told him to-night, he’s a great stupid ghipes to mind anything about the wicked, deceitful girl.”

      “Here, have some more sausage, mother; it’s splendid; and don’t get running down your own flesh and blood.”

      “Own flesh and blood!” cried Mrs Banks. “I’m ashamed of her.”

      “No, you’re not, lass,” said Joe, with a broad grin. “Thou’rt as proud of her as a she peacock wi’ two tails. Now, lookye here, lass; you’ve took quite on that Daisy should have Tom. Well, he’s a decent young fellow enew, and if she’d liked him I should ha’ said nowt against it, but then she didn’t.”

      “She don’t know her own mind,” said Mrs Banks.

      “Oh yes, she do,” said Joe, smiling, “quite well; and so does some one else. The Missus has fun’ it out.”

      “Mrs Glaire?”

      “Yes, the Missus. She sent for me to-day to speak to me about it.”

      “What, about her boy coming after our Daisy?”

      “About Mr Richard Glaire, maister o’ Doomford Foundry, taking a fancy to, and having matrimonial projects with regard to his foreman’s daughter,” said Joe, pompously.

      “Well!” exclaimed Mrs Banks, eagerly; “and does she like it?”

      “Well – er – er – er – she’s about for and again it,” said Joe, slowly.

      “Now that won’t do, Joe,” exclaimed Mrs Banks. “You can’t deceive me, and I’m not going to be put aside in that way. I know as well as if I’d ha’ been theer that she said she didn’t like.”

      “Well, what does it matter about what the women think? Dick – I mean Maister Richard Glaire’s hard after her.”

      “And means to marry her?” said Mrs Banks.

      “Marry her? Of course. Didn’t Baxter, of Churley, marry Jane Kemp? Didn’t Bill Bradby, as was wuth fifty thousand, marry Polly Robinson of Toddlethorpe, and make a real lady of her, and she wasn’t fit to stand within ten yards o’ my Daisy.”

      “Yes, go on,” said Mrs Banks. “That’s your pride.”

      “Pride be blowed, it’s only a difference in money. Richard Glaire’s only my old fellow-workman’s son, and Daisy’s my daughter, and I can buy her as many silk frocks, and as many watches, and chains, and rings as any lady in the land need have,” said Joe, angrily, as he slapped his pocket. “I ain’t gone on saving for twenty years for nowt. She shan’t disgrace him when they’re married.”

      “Yes, Joe, that’s your pride,” said Mrs Banks.

      “Go it,” said Joe, angrily, “tant away – tant – tant – tant. I don’t keer.”

      “It’s your pride, that’s what it is. When she might marry a decent, honest, true-hearted lad like Tom, who’s worth fifty Richard Glaires – an insignificant, stuck-up dandy.”

      “Don’t you abuse him whose bread you eat,” said Joe.

      “I don’t,” said Mrs Banks. “It’s his mother’s and not his. I believe he soon wouldn’t have a bit for himself, if it wasn’t for you keeping his business together. Always sporting and gambling, and fooling away his money.”

      “Well, if I keep it together, it’s for our bairn, isn’t it?” said Joe.

      “And he’s no better than he should be.”

      “You let him alone,” said Joe, stoutly. “All young men are a bit wild ’fore they’re married. I was for one.”

      “It’s a big story, Joe,” said Mrs Banks, indignantly. “You wasn’t, or I shouldn’t ha’ had you.”

      Joe winked at the clock again, and laughed a little inside as he unbuttoned another button of his vest – the second beginning at the top – to keep count how many cups of tea he had had.

      “It’s my opinion,” said Mrs Banks, “that – ”

      “Howd thee tongue, wilt ta?” cried Joe. “Here’s the lass.”

      Daisy entered as he spoke, looking very pale and anxious-eyed, hastened through the kitchen, and went upstairs to take off her hat and jacket.

      “Just you make haste down, miss,” said Mrs Banks, tartly.

      “I don’t want any supper, mother,” said the girl, hurriedly.

      “Then I want thee to ha’e some!” exclaimed Mrs Banks; “so look sharp.”

      Daisy gave a sigh and hurried upstairs, and, as the door closed, Joe brought his hand down on the table with a thump that made the cups and saucers dance.

      “Now, look here, old woman – that’s my bairn, and I wean’t have her wherrited. If she is – ”

      “I’m going to say what’s on my mind, Joe, when it’s for my child’s good,” said Mrs Banks, stoutly.