A WALKING DELEGATE
an' sence then till I come here, I 've run away with more men than 'u'd fill a boardin' -house. Why, the man that sold me here he says to the boss, s' he: ’Mind, now, I 've warned you. 'T won't be none of my fault if she sheds you daown the road. Don't you drive her in a top-buggy, ner 'thout winkers,' s' he, 'ner 'thout this bit, ef you look to come home behind her.''N' the fust thing the boss did was to git the top-buggy."
"Can't say as I like top-buggies," said Rick; "they don't balance good."
"Suit me to a ha'ar," said Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. "Top-buggy means the baby 's in behind, an' I kin stop while she gathers the pretty flowers—yes, an' pick a maouthful, too. The women-folk all say I hev to be humoured, an'—I don't kerry things to the sweatin'-point."
"'Course I 've no prejudice against a top-buggy s' long 's I can see it," Tedda went on quickly. "It 's ha'f-seein' the pesky thing bobbin' an' balancin' behind the winkers gits on my nerves. Then the boss looked at the bit they 'd sold with me, an' s' he: 'Jiminy Christmas! This 'u'd make a clothes-horse stan''n end!' Then he gave me a plain bar bit, an' fitted it 's if there was some feelin' to my maouth."
"Hain't ye got any, Miss Tedda?" said Tuck, who has a mouth like velvet, and knows it.
"Might 'a' had, Miss Tuck, but I 've forgot. Then he give me an open bridle,—my style 's an open bridle—an'—I dunno as I ought to tell this by rights— he—give—me—a kiss."
"My!" said Tuck, "I can't tell fer the shoes o' me what makes some men so fresh."
[59]
