I therefore answered boldly,
"Ah! who indeed!"

"Certainly," said the man; "who should know better than yourself, or who
so well? And now my tiny one, let me ask you one thing--you didn't come
to do us any harm?"

"No," said I, "I had no dislike to you; though, if you were to meddle
with me--"

_Man_. Of course, my gorgious, of course you would; and quite right too.
Meddle with you!--what right have we? I should say it would not be quite
safe. I see how it is; you are one of them there;--and he bent his head
towards his left shoulder.

_Myself_. Yes, I am one of them--for I thought he was alluding to the
soldiers,--you had best mind what you are about, I can tell you.

_Man_. Don't doubt we will for our own sake; Lord bless you, wifelkin,
only think that we should see one of them there when we least thought
about it. Well, I have heard of such things, though I never thought to
see one; however, seeing is believing. Well! now you are come, and are
not going to do us any mischief, I hope you will stay; you can do us
plenty of good if you will.

_Myself_. What good can I do you?

_Man_. What good? plenty! Would you not bring us luck? I have heard
say, that one of them there always does, if it will but settle down. Stay
with us, you shall have a tilted cart all to yourself if you like. We'll
make you our little God Almighty, and say our prayers to you every
morning!

_Myself_. That would be nice; and if you were to give me plenty of these
things, I should have no objection. But what would my father say? I
think he would hardly let me.

_Man_. Why not? he would be with you; and kindly would we treat him.
Indeed, without your father you would be nothing at all.

_Myself_. That's true; but I do not think he could be spared from his
regiment. I have heard him say that they could do nothing without him.

_Man_. His regiment! What are you talking about?--what does the child
mean?

_Myself_. What do I mean! why, that my father is an officer man at the
barracks yonder, keeping guard over the French prisoners.

_Man_. Oh! then that sap is not your father!

_Myself_. What, the snake? Why, no! Did you think he was?

_Man_. To be sure we did. Didn't you tell me so?

_Myself_. Why, yes; but who would have thought you would have believed
it? It is a tame one. I hunt vipers and tame them.

_Man_. O--h!

"O--h!" grunted the woman, "that's it, is it?"

The man and woman, who during