does think, which awm inclined to daat, unless its thinkin ha tha can
contrive to be awkard an aggravatin."

"Well, but as aw wor gooin to say, If aw wor a----"

"Aw dooant want to hear owt tha has to say abaat it. A fine woman tha'd
mak! But aw wish tha wor foorced to swap places wi me for a wick. Aw
should like to see ha tha'd fancy gettin up befoor dayleet ov a Mondy
mornin an start o' sich a weshin o' clooas as aw have to face ivvery
wick; to say nowt abaat starchin an manglin an ironin. An then to start
an brew a barrel o' ale for other fowk to sup; an then to bake for sich
a family as we've getten,--nivver to mention makkin th' beds an cleanin
th' hearthstun,--an' th' meals to get ready, an then to cleean th' haase
throo top to bottom ivvery wick,--an darn th' stockins an put a claat on
here an a patch on thear, an fifty moor things beside,--an nivver get a
word o' thanks for it. Aw just wish tha wor a woman for an odd wick. Aw
do, truly."

"As aw sed befoor, If aw wor a----"

"Awm capt tha hasn't moor sense nor to keep tawkin sich foolishness. Tha
knows tha arn't a woman an tha nivver can be,--moor's pity. But if aw
wor a man awd awther tawk sense or keep mi maath shut. Aw think
sometimes 'at summat 'll happen to thi as a judgment for bein sich an
ungrateful tyke as tha art. Tha gets up in a mornin an finds thi
braikfast ready, an if ther's owt i'th haase at's nice an tasty tha gets
it; an then tha walks aght to what tha calls thi wark, an comes to thi
dinner, an off agean wol drinkin time, an after that tha awther gooas an
caars i' some Jerryhoil, or else tha sits rockin thisen i'th front o'th
fair, smokin thi bacca an enjoyin thisen wol bedtime. Ther's some fowk