"Howsomever," he continued, "it's a handsome weskit, there's no
denyin', an' well worth a woman's lookin' at--a proper man inside
of it."
"Not a doubt of it," said I.
"I mean," said he, scratching his ear, and staring hard at the
handle of the pitchfork, "a chap wi' a fine pair o' whiskers,
say."
"Hum!" said I.
"Now, woman," he went on, shifting his gaze to the top button
of his left gaiter, "woman is uncommon fond o' a good pair o'
whiskers--leastways, so I've heerd."
"Indeed," said I, "few women can look upon such things unmoved,
I believe, and nothing can set off a pair of fine, black whiskers
better than a flowered satin waistcoat."
"That's so!" nodded the farmer.
"But, unfortunately," said I, passing my hand over my smooth lips
and chin, "I have no whiskers."
"No," returned the farmer, with a thoughtful shake of the head,
"leastways, none as I can observe."
"Now, you have," said I.
"So they do tell me," he answered modestly.
"And the natural inference is that you ought to have a flowered
waistcoat to go with them."
"Why, that's true, to be sure!" he nodded.
"The price of this one is--fifteen shillings," said I.
"That's a lot o' money, master," said he, shaking his head.
"It's a great deal less than forty," said I.
"An' ten is less than fifteen, an' ten shillin' is my price; what
d'ye say--come now."
"You drive a hard bargain," said I, "but the waistcoat is yours
at your own price." So saying, I slipped off knapsack and coat,
and removing the garment in question, having first felt through
the pockets, handed it to him, whereupon he slowly counted the
ten shillings into my hand; which done, he sat down upon the shaft
of a cart near by, and, spreading out the waistcoat on his knees,
looked it over with glistening eyes.
"Forty shillin' you paid for 'un, up to Lunnon," said he, "forty
shillin' it were, I think?"
"Forty shillings!" said I.
"Ecod, it's a sight o' money! But it's a grand weskit--ah, that
it is!"
"So you believe me now, do you?" said I, pocketing the ten
shillings.
"Well," he answered slowly, "I won't go so fur as that, but 'tis
a mighty fine weskit theer's no denyin', an' must ha' cost a
sight o' money--a powerful sight!" I picked up my knapsack and,
slipping it on, took my staff, and turned to depart. "Theer's a
mug o' homebrewed, an' a slice o' fine roast beef up at th' 'ouse,
if you should be so inclined--"