第50章

NowJohn，beingtoomuchencouragedbythegirls(ofwhichIcouldneverbreakthem)，cameintothehousethatDecemberevening，witheveryinchofhimfullofatale。Anniesawit，andLizzie，ofcourse；andevenI，inthegloomofgreatevils，perceivedthatJohnwasaloadedgun；butIdidnotcaretoexplodehim。Nownothingprimedhimsohotlyasthis：ifyouwantedtohearallJohnFryhadheard，thesurestofallsurewaystoitwas，topretendnottocareforawordofit。

’IworovertoExefordinthemorning，’Johnbeganfromthechimney-corner，lookingstraightatAnnie；’fortozeealittlecalve，Jan，asuscuddn’tgettheetolavehouzeabout。Meesushavegotaquarevancyvorun，fromwuttherhaveheer’dofthebrade。Nowzitquite，wull’eMissLuzzie，ora’wuntgooonnovurder。

VainelittletaylI’lltull’ee，ifsobetheezitsquite。Wull，asIcoomdownthehill，Izeedasaightofvolksastappingofthero-udwai。Arlon’emwi’

girtgoons，ortwomenoutofdreewi’’em。Rackontherewordreescoreon’em，taksmarlandbegtogatherlaike；lattalounthewomenandchillers；zumonemwi’

matchesblowing，totherswi’flint-lacks。“Wuttbeupnow？“IsaystoBillBlacksmith，ashadknowledgeofme：“betheKingacoomin？Ifherbe，do’eewanttoshutt’un？“

’“Theenotknaw!“saysBillBlacksmith，justthezameasIbeatullinofit：“whai，man，usexpexTamFaggus，andzumonusmanestoshutt’un。“

’“Shutt’unwi’outawarrant!“saysI：“sure’eeknawsbetternorthic，Bill!Amanmayn’tshutttoanotherman，wi’outhaveawarrant，Bill。Warshipzedso，lasttaimeIzeedun，andnothingtothecontrairy。“

’“Haw，haw!Neverfroutaboutthat，“saithBill，zameasIbetullinyou；“ushaswarrantsandwarshipsenow，dreeorvouron’em。Andmorenoradizzenwarranties；

fro’utIknowtocontrairy。Shutt’un，usmanes；andshutt’un，uswill——“Whai，MissAnnie，goodLord，whuttivermaks’eestearso？’

’Nothingatall，John，’ourAnnieanswered；’onlythehorribleferocityofthatmiserableblacksmith。’

’Thatbenaytherherenorthere，’Johncontinued，withsomewrathathisowninterruption：’BlacksmithknawedwhutttheSquirehadbeen；andvearedtolosehisowncustom，ifSquiretuktoshooin’again。ShuttanymanIwouldmyzellasintervaredwi’mytradelaike。“Luckyforthee，“saidBillBlacksmith，“astheebee’stsoshartandfat，Jan。Dreeonusworagooin’toshutt’ee，tilluszeedhowfattheewaz，Jan。“

’“Lornow，Bill!“Ianswered’un，wi’agirtcoldswatuponme：“shuttme，Bill；andmyownwaifeniverdrameofit!’

HereJohnFrylookedroundthekitchen；forhehadneversaidanythingofthekind，Idoubt；butnowmadeitpartofhisdiscourse，fromthinkingthatMistressFrywascome，asshegenerallydid，tofetchhim。

’Wulldonethen，JanVry，’saidthewoman，whohadenteredquietly，butwasonlyouroldMolly。’Wutthandsomemannerstheehastgat，Jan，tospakesowellofthywaifelaike；afterarlthelaifesheleadsthee!’

’Putttheepotonthefire，old’ooman，andbiletheeownbakkon，’Johnansweredher，verysharply：’nobodynoraighttomeddlewi’aman’sbadoomanbuthimzell。

Wull，herewasalltheseheremenawaitin’，zumwi’

harses，zumwi’out；thecommonvolkwi’longgirtguns，andthaquarlitywi’girtbroad-swords。Whoworthere？

Whaylattmezee。ThereworSquireMaunder，’hereJohnassumedhisfullhistoricalkey，’himwi’thepottohisvittle-place；andSirRichardBlewittshak