ta tell me that?"

"If aw connot, tha can, an' that isn't all;--can ta tell me who it is
'at invites th' neighbors to rum and teah 'ith' after nooin, when they
know th' husband's gooin to work ovver? Can ta tell me that?"

"Well, if ther's been onny rum an' teah stirrin, tha's allus takken
gooid care to have thi share on it, but they've allus been wimmen 'ats'
come to awr haase when th' maister's been aat, that's one blessin."

"Does ta meean to say 'at ther's onny fellies been to awr haase when th'
husband's been off? Tha'd better mind what tha says or else that cap o'
thine ul suffer!"

"Aw dooant say onny fellies has been;--tha should know th' best, but awm
nawther blind nor gaumless. But aw'll tell th' what tha art;--Tha'rt a
nasty, ill contrived gooid-for-nowt, an' all th' neighbors say soa, an'
they wish to gooidness tha'd flit, an' all at belangs to thi, for ther's
niver onny peace whear tha ar't."

"Noa, an' ther niver will be onny peace wol tha pays for yond winder!
Does ta think fowk's nowt else to do wi' ther brass, but to put in
winders for yor Alick to mash?"

"Aw tell thi he hasn't mash'd it, for he's niver cross'd th' doorstun
sin he gate up. Th' fact is he's niver getten up yet, for he isn't at
hooam, for he's aboon twenty miles off, at his gronmothers."

"Dooant tell me that! Ther's awr Vaynus comin, he knows who mash'd it.
Vaynus! Who wor it 'at mash'd yond winder? Nah tell a lie at thi
peril,--did ta see it brokken?"

"Eea, aw saw Topsy jump up at th' birdcage, an' it missed it click an'
tumbled throo th' winder."

"A'a I drabbit that cat! Aw'll as sure screw its neck raand as awm
livin!"

"Nah tha sees, aw tell'd thi it worn't awr Aleck!"

"Noa, it couldn't ha been! Are ta sure tha saw yond cat do it, Vaynus?"

"Eea awm sure aw saw it."

"Why then it wornt yor Alick! An aw hardly thowt it wor, for he's abaat
as quiet a lad an' as daycent a one as ther is abaat here. Aw oft tell
awrs to tak a lesson throo him."

"Ther's noa better lad iver breathed nor awr Alick;--aw dooant say'at
he's better nor onnybody's else, but he's as gooid. An' awm sure tha's a
lot ov as fine childer as onnybody need set e'en on, an' if they are a
bit wild, what can yo expect when ther's soa monny on 'em. But aw mun
get these clooas dried wol ther's a bit o' druft. Wi' ta leean me that
clooas prop o' thine agean?"

"Vaynus! What are ta dooin? Goa fetch that prop this minit, an' see 'at
tha allus brings it wh