human
John Crumb be a coming over by-and-by, said the old man.
gpt
See and have a bit o' supper ready for him.
human
John Crumb coming here, grandfather? He's welcome to stay away then, for me.
gpt
That be dommed. The old man thrust his old hat on to his head and seated himself in a wooden arm-chair that stood by the kitchen-fire. Whenever he was angry he put on his hat, and the custom was well understood by Ruby.
human
Why not welcome, and he all one as your husband? Look ye here, Ruby, I'm going to have an eend o' this. John Crumb is to marry you next month, and the banns is to be said.
gpt
The parson may say what he pleases, grandfather. I can't stop his saying of 'em. It isn't likely I shall try, neither. But no parson among 'em all can marry me without I'm willing.
human
And why should you no be willing, you contrairy young jade, you?
gpt
You've been a' drinking, grandfather.
human
Look ye here, Ruby, he said,
gpt
Who cares for all Bungay,--a set of beery chaps as knows nothing but swilling and smoking;--and John Crumb the main of 'em all? There never was a chap for beer like John Crumb.
human
Never saw him the worse o' liquor in all my life.
gpt
It ony just makes him stoopider and stoopider the more he swills. You can't tell me, grandfather, about John Crumb. I knows him.
human
Didn't ye say as how ye'd have him? Didn't ye give him a promise?
gpt
If I did, I ain't the first girl as has gone back of her word,--and I shan't be the last.
human
You means you won't have him?
gpt
That's about it, grandfather.
human
Then you'll have to have somebody to fend for ye, and that pretty sharp,--for you won't have me.
gpt
There ain't no difficulty about that, grandfather.
human
Very well. He's a coming here to-night, and you may settle it along wi' him. Out o' this ye shall go. I know of your doings.
gpt
What doings! You don't know of no doings. There ain't no doings. You don't know nothing ag'in me.
human
He's a coming here to-night, and if you can make it up wi' him, well and good. There's five hun'erd pound, and ye shall have the dinner and the dance and all Bungay. He ain't a going to be put off no longer;--he ain't.
gpt
Whoever wanted him to be put on? Let him go his own gait.
human
If you can't make it up wi' him--
gpt
Well, grandfather, I shan't anyways.
human
Let me have my say, will ye, yer jade, you? There's five hun'erd pound! and there ain't ere a farmer in Suffolk or Norfolk paying rent for a bit of land like this can do as well for his darter as that,--let alone only a granddarter. You never thinks o' that;--you don't. If you don't like to take it,--leave it. But you'll leave Sheep's Acre too.
gpt
Bother Sheep's Acre. Who wants to stop at Sheep's Acre? It's the stoopidest place in all England.
human
Then find another. Then find another. That's all aboot it. John Crumb's a coming up for a bit o' supper. You tell him your own mind. I'm dommed if I trouble aboot it. On'y you don't stay here. Sheep's Acre ain't good enough for you, and you'd best find another home. Stoopid, is it? You'll have to put up wi' places stoopider nor Sheep's Acre, afore you've done.
gpt
It's no good going against love, she said to herself,