The old man had slept off his anger and his beer while Ruby had been preparing the feast, and now roused himself to entertain his guests. 'What, Joe Mixet; is that thou? Thou'rt welcome. Come in, man. Well, John, how is it wi' you? Ruby's stewing o' something for us to eat a bit. Don't e' smell it?'--John Crumb lifted up his great nose, sniffed and grinned.
'John didn't like going home in the dark like,' said the baker, with his little joke. 'So I just come along to drive away the bogies.'
'The more the merrier;--the more the merrier. Ruby'll have enough for the two o' you, I'll go bail. So John Crumb's afraid of bogies;--is he? The more need he to have some 'un in his house to scart 'em away.'
The lover had seated himself without speaking a word; but now he was instigated to ask a question. 'Where be she, Muster Ruggles?' They were seated in the outside or front kitchen, in which the old man and his granddaughter always lived; while Ruby was at work in the back kitchen. As John Crumb asked this question she could be heard distinctly among the pots and the plates. She now came out, and wiping her hands on her apron, shook hands with the two young men. She had enveloped herself in a big household apron when the cooking was in hand, and had not cared to take it off for the greeting of this lover. 'Grandfather said as how you was a coming out for your supper, so I've been a seeing to it. You'll excuse the apron, Mr Mixet.'
'You couldn't look nicer, miss, if you was to try ever so. My mother says as it's housifery as recommends a girl to the young men. What do you say, John?'
'I loiks to see her loik o' that,' said John rubbing his hands down the back of his trowsers, and stooping till he had brought his eyes down to a level with those of his sweetheart.
'It looks homely; don't it John?' said Mixet.
'Bother!' said Ruby, turning round sharp, and going back to the other kitchen. John Crumb turned round also, and grinned at his friend, and then grinned at the old man.
'You've got it all afore you,' said the farmer,--leaving the lover to draw what lesson he might from this oracular proposition.
'And I don't care how soon I ha'e it in hond;--that I don't,' said John.
'That's the chat,' said Joe Mixet. 'There ain't nothing wanting in his house;--is there, John? It's all there,--cradle, caudle-cup, and the rest of it. A young woman going to John knows what she'll have to eat when she gets up, and what she'll lie down upon when she goes to bed.' This he declared in a loud voice for the benefit of Ruby in the back kitchen.