"
"Don't 'ee talk silly, Giles Topham. Keep your nonsense for Hester
Roberts."
"Hester Roberts! What be that flirty hussy to I?" retorted Giles
indignantly.
"You know best about that, Giles. What be 'ee to me? That's more to the
purpose I'm thinking."
"I be a lot to 'ee Hannah. Out wi' the truth now, an' tell me if I
baint."
Lavinia was beginning to feel herself superfluous in the midst of this
rustic billing and cooing, and was moving a few steps off when Hannah
having whispered a few words to Giles which might have been a reproof or
the reverse beckoned to her, and without further ado told her old
sweetheart what she wanted.
"I'd a sight sooner take 'ee Hannah--meanin' no offence to 'ee miss--but
if it can't be, why----"
"Of course it can't, you booby. You know that as well as I do."
"Aye. Some other time may be," rejoined Giles grinning afresh. "So 'ee
be a-goin' to see the great Mr. Pope? 'Ee'll have to cross by the ferry
and 'tis a bit of a walk there from Mortlake but I'll see 'ee safe."
"I should think you would or I'll never speak to you again."
Giles gave another of his grins and set to work arranging the baskets
in his cart so as to form a seat for Lavinia, and having helped the girl
to mount, bade Hannah adieu, a matter which took some few minutes and
was only terminated by a hearty kiss which Hannah received very
demurely. Then Giles after a crack of his whip started his horse, at the
head of which he marched, and with waving handkerchiefs by Hannah and
Lavinia the cart took the road to London Bridge.
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