Edward frowned. Then the humour of the situation struck him, and he
laughed. Abel rose as they came to the door.

'Well, mister,' he inquired glumly, 'what'n you after? Money for them
missions to buy clothes for savages as 'd liefer go bare? Or money for
them poor clergy? I'm poorer nor the clergy.'

'I want to marry Hazel.'

Abel flung back his head and roared. Then he jerked his thumb over his
shoulder towards Hazel.

'What?--'er?' he queried in ecstasies of mirth. ''Er? Look at the
floor, man! Look at the apern she's got on! Laws, man! you surely dunna
want our 'Azel for your missus?'

'Yes.' Edward was nettled and embarrassed.

'Well, 'er's only eighteen.' He looked Hazel over appraisingly, as he
would have looked at a heifer. 'Still, I suppose she's an 'ooman
growed. Well, you can take her. I dunna mind. When d'you want her?'

I shall ask her when she will wish to marry me.'

Abel laughed again.

'Lord love us!' he said. 'You unna take and ax her? Tell her, that's
what! Just tell her what to do, and she'll do it if you give her one
for herself now and agen. So you mean marrying, do yer?'