The farmer eyed the questioner narrowly, and then, in a sullen voice,
answered: "I'm sellin' her because I want to get shut on her. Happen
that'll be reason enough for the likes o' thee, Timothy."

After more of this altercation one of the younger men, urged on by his
comrades, summoned up courage to make a bid.

"Sithee, I'll gie thee threepence for her, farmer."

The girl, hearing the insulting offer that was made, raised her eyes for
a moment to glance at the speaker, then shuddered, and, after a pleading
look at her stepfather, lowered them again.

Learoyd, taking no notice of the girl, looked the bidder steadily in the
face for a moment, in order to discover whether the offer was seriously
made, and, apparently satisfied that such was not the case, replied:
"I'll noan sell her for threepence. Shoo's worth more nor that, let
alone the clothes shoo stands in." But when no further offer was
forthcoming he turned again to the speaker and said: "Well, threepence
is t' price o' a pint o' beer; mak it a quart an' t' lass is thine."

But the bargainer, seeing that the offer which he made in jest was taken
in earnest, slunk away to the rear of the crowd, and it seemed as though
the girl would remain unsold. Then it was that a ragged, out-at-heel
weaver of diminutive size slowly elbowed his way to the front, and,
holding up six pennies, said, with a shamefaced look on his face:
"There's thy brass. I'll tak t' lass."

The farmer eyed him curiously, while the crowd, realising that a serious