Why d'ye like aggravatin' a poor devil? Now baint
ye an ill-natured little puss, Maud, an' I likin' ye so well? You're the
prettiest lass in Derbyshire; there's nothin' I wouldn't do for ye.'
And he backed his declaration with an oath.
'Be so good, then, as to re-enter your dog-cart and drive away,' I replied,
very much incensed.
'Now, there it is again! Ye can't speak me civil. Another fellah'd fly out,
an' maybe kiss ye for spite; but I baint that sort, I'm all for coaxin' and
kindness, an' ye won't let me. What _be_ you drivin' at, Maud?'
'I think I've said very plainly, sir, that I wish to be alone. You've
_nothing_ to say, except utter nonsense, and I've heard quite enough. Once
for all, I beg, sir, that you will be so good as to leave me.'
'Well, now, look here, Maud; I'll do anything you like--burn me if I
don't--if you'll only jest be kind to me, like cousins should. What did
I ever do to vex you? If you think I like any lass better than you--some
fellah at Elverston's bin talkin', maybe--it's nout but lies an' nonsense.
Not but there's lots o' wenches likes me well enough, though I be a plain
lad, and speaks my mind straight out.
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