`Mr Glegg, it's beyond iverything! You'll go and give information to the tramps next, as they may come and rob me.'
`Well, well, as I was sayin', if you like to join me wi' twenty pounds, you can - I'll make it fifty.That'll be a pretty good nest-egg - eh, Tom?'
`You're not counting on me, Mr Glegg, I hope,' said his wife.`You could do fine things wi' my money, I don't doubt.' `Very well,' said Mr Glegg, rather snappishly, `then we'll do without you.I shall go with you to see this Salt,' he added, turning to Bob.
`And now, I suppose, you'll go all the other way, Mr Glegg,' said Mrs G., `and want to shunt me out o' my own nevvy's business.I never said I wouldn't put money into it - I don't say as it shall be twenty pounds, though you're so ready to say it for me - but he'll see some day as his aunt's in the right not to risk the money she's saved for him till it's proved as it won't be lost.'
`Ay, that's a pleasant sort o' risk, that is,' said Mr Glegg, indiscreetly winking at Tom, who couldn't avoid smiling.But Bob stemmed the injured lady's outburst.
`Ay, mum,' he said, admiringly, `you know what's what, you do.An' it's nothing but fair.You see how the first bit of a job answers, an'
then you'll come down handsome.Lors, it's a fine thing to hev good kin.
I got my bit of a nest-egg as the master calls it, all by my own sharpness - ten suvreigns it was - wi' dousing the fire at Torry's mill, an' it's growed an' growed by a bit an' a bit, till I'n got a matter o' thirty pound to lay out, besides makin' my mother comfor'ble.I should get more, on'y I'm such a soft wi' the women - I can't help lettin' 'em hev such good bargains.There's this bundle, now' (thumping it lustily), `any other chap 'ud make a pretty penny out on it.But me!...lors, I shall sell 'em for pretty near what I paid for 'em.'
`Have you got a bit of good net, now?' said Mrs Glegg, in a patronising tone, moving from the tea-table, and folding her napkin.
`Eh, mum, not what you'd think it worth your while to look at.I'd scorn to show it you.It 'ud be an insult to you.'
`But let me see,' said Mrs Glegg, still patronising.`If they're damaged goods, they're like enough to be a bit the better quality.'
`No, mum.I know my place,' said Bob, lifting up his pack and shouldering it.`I'm not going t' expose the lowness o' my trade to a lady like you.
Packs is come down i' the world: it 'ud cut you to th' heart to see the difference.I'm at your service, sir, when you've a mind to go an' see Salt.'
`All in good time,' said Mr Glegg, really unwilling to cut short the dialogue.`Are you wanted at the wharf, Tom?'
`No, sir; I left Stowe in my place.'
`Come, put down you pack, and let me see,' said Mrs Glegg, drawing a chair to the window, and seating herself with much dignity.
`Don't you ask it, mum,' said Bob, entreatingly.
`Make no more words,' said Mrs Glegg, severely, `but do as I tell you.'
`Eh, mum, I'm loth - that I am,' said Bob, slowly depositing his pack on the step, and beginning to untie it with unwilling fingers.`But what you order shall be done' (much fumbling in pauses between the sentences).
`It's not as you'll buy a single thing on me...I'd be sorry for you to do it...for think o' them poor women up i' the villages there, as niver stir a hundred yards from home...it 'ud be a pity for anybody to buy up their bargains.Lors, it's as good as a junketing to 'em when they see me wi' my pack...an' I shall niver pick up such bargains for 'em again.
Least ways, I've no time now, for I'm off to Laceham.See here, now,' Bob went on, becoming rapid again, and holding up a scarlet woollen kerchief with an embroidered wreath in the corner - `Here's a thing to make a lass's mouth water, an' on'y two shillin' - an' why? Why, 'cause there's a bit of a moth-hole i' this plain end.Lors, I think the moths an' the mildew was sent by Providence o' purpose to cheapen the goods a bit for the good lookin' women as han't got much money.If it hadn't been for the moths, now, every hankicher on 'em 'ud ha' gone to the rich handsome ladies like you, mum, at five shillin' apiece - not a farthin' less - but what does the moth do? Why, it nibbles off three shillin' o' the price i' no time, an' then a packman like me can carry't to the poor lasses as live under the dark thack, to make a bit of a blaze for 'em.Lors, it's as good as a fire, to look at such a hankicher!'
Bob held at a distance for admiration, but Mrs Glegg said sharply, `Yes, but nobody wants a fire this time o' year.Put these coloured things by - let me look at your nets, if you've got 'em.'
`Eh, mum, I told you how it 'ud be,' said Bob, flinging aside the coloured things with an air of desperation.`I knowed it 'ud turn again' you to look at such paltry articles as I carry.Here's a piece o' figured muslim now - what's the use o' your lookin' at it? You might as well look at poor folks's victual, mum - it 'ud on'y take away your appetite.There's a yard i' the middle on't, as the pattern's all missed - lors, why it's a muslin as the Princess Victoree might ha' wore - but,' added Bob, flinging it behind him on to the turf, as if to save Mrs Glegg's eyes, `it'll be bought up by th' huckster's wife at Fibb's End - that's where it 'll go - ten shillin' for the whole lot - ten yards, countin' the damaged 'un - five-an'-twenty shillin' 'ud ha' been the price - not a penny less.But I'll say no more, mum, it's nothing to you - a piece o' muslim like that - you can afford to pay three times the money for a thing as isn't half so good.It's nets you talked on - well, I've got a piece as 'ull serve you to make fun on...'
`Bring me that muslin,' said Mrs Glegg, `it's a buff - I'm partial to buff.'
`Eh, but a damaged thing,' said Bob, in a tone of deprecating disgust.`You'd do nothing with it, mum - you'd give it to the cook, Iknow you would - an' it 'ud be a pity - she'd look too much like a lady in it - it's unbecoming for sarvants.'
`Fetch it and let me see you measure it,' said Mrs Glegg, authoritatively.
Bob obeyed with ostentatious reluctance.