"And," said I, staring away into the distance, "do you think
that, by any possible chance, she might love me, this woman?"
"Ay, for sure," said the Ancient, "for sure she will; why don't
'ee up an ax 'er? Wi' a fine round moon over-'ead, an' a pretty
maid at your elber, it's easy enough to tell 'er you love 'er,
aren't it?"
"Indeed, yes," said I, beginning to rub my chin, "very easy!" and
I sighed.
"An' when you looks into a pair o' sweet eyes, an' sees the shine
o' the moon in 'em--why, it aren't so very fur to 'er lips, are
it, Peter?
"No," said I, rubbing my chin harder than ever; "no--and there's
the danger of it."
"Wheer's t' danger, Peter?"
"Everywhere!" I answered; "in her eyes, in her thick, soft hair,
the warmth of her breath, the touch of her hand, the least
contact of her garments--her very step!"
"I knowed it!" cried the Ancient joyfully, peering at me under
his brows; "I knowed it!"
"Knew what?"
"You be in love--good lad! good lad!" and he flourished his pipe
in the air.
"In love!" I exclaimed; "in love--I?"
"Sure as sure!"
"But love, according to Aristotle, is--"
"Love, Peter, is what makes a man forget 'is breakfus', an' 'is
work, an' 'is--"
"But I work very hard--besides--"
"Love is what makes a man so brave as a lion, Peter, an' fall
a-tremblin' like a coward when She stands a-lookin' up at 'im;
love makes the green earth greener, an' the long road short--ah!
almost too short, sometimes, the love of a woman comes betwixt a
man an' all evils an' dangers--why don't 'ee up an' ax 'er, Peter?"
"She'd laugh at me, Ancient."
"Not she."
"That soft, low laugh of hers."
"Well, what o' that?"
"Besides, she hardly knows me!"
The Ancient took out his snuff-box and gave two loud double
knocks upon the lid.
"A woman knows a man sooner than a man knows a woman--ah, a sight
sooner! Why, Lord bless ye, Peter, she 'as 'im all reckoned up
long afore 'e knows for sure if 'er eyes be--black 'uns or brown
'uns--that she 'as." Here he extracted a pinch of snuff. "As
for Prudence--she loves 'ee wi' all 'er 'eart an' soul!"