"Three cheers for Missus and the lil' Squire," he called, and on that
able blend of sentiments all voices met with a roar. As the last sound
died away Phoebe could be heard clamouring:

"I can do things too; Da Boase nadn't think Ishmael can do it all. I can
dance and sing, I can!"

"So thee can, my worm," boomed the miller, and, swinging her up, he
stood her also on the table. "Shaw us what 'ee can do, my beauty," he
encouraged her.

Phoebe, not at all shy, spread her crumpled skirts and did a little
dance that consisted of jigging up and down in the same place, to the
accompaniment of a sing-song of one verse:

"I likes coffee an' I likes tea,
I likes th' chaps an' th' chaps likes me,
So, mawther, you go an' hold your tongue--
You had a fellow when you was young!"

Thus piped Phoebe, and the audience applauded with clapping and
laughter. Her cheeks were ablaze with the excitement of success; she
seized on Ishmael for the promised dance. But the Parson bade him say
good-night and come away. He remained deaf to all appeals from Phoebe
for just one dance, only one, and, making his own farewells, bore
Ishmael back with him to the Vicarage for the night. He was going to run
no risk of an anti-climax.