'I knew she'd do the thing as was right. I said that all along. Darned if I didn't. You ask Mixet, squoire,--him as is baker down Bardsey Lane. I allays guy' it her that she'd do the thing as was right. But how about she and the Baro-nite?'
Roger did not wish to speak of the Baronet just at present. 'I suppose the old man down here did ill-use her?'
'Oh, dreadful;--there ain't no manner of doubt o' that. Dragged her about awful;--as he ought to be took up, only for the rumpus like. D'ye think she's see'd the Baro-nite since she's been in Lon'on, Muster Carbury?'
'I think she's a good girl, if you mean that.'
'I'm sure she be. I don't want none to tell me that, squoire. Tho', squoire, it's better to me nor a ten pun' note to hear you say so. I allays had a leaning to you, squoire; but I'll more nor lean to you, now. I've said all through she was good, and if e'er a man in Bungay said she warn't--; well, I was there and ready.'
'I hope nobody has said so.'
'You can't stop them women, squoire. There ain't no dropping into them. But, Lord love 'ee, she shall come and be missus of my house to-morrow, and what'll it matter her then what they say? But, squoire did ye hear if the Baro-nite had been a' hanging about that place?'
'About Islington, you mean.'
'He goes a hanging about; he do. He don't come out straight forrard, and tell a girl as he loves her afore all the parish. There ain't one in Bungay, nor yet in Mettingham, nor yet in all the Ilketsals and all the Elmhams, as don't know as I'm set on Ruby Ruggles. Huggery-Muggery is pi'son to me, squoire.'
'We all know that when you've made up your mind, you have made up your mind.'
'I hove. It's made up ever so as to Ruby. What sort of a one is her aunt now, squoire?'
'She keeps lodgings;--a very decent sort of a woman I should say.'
'She won't let the Baro-nite come there?'
'Certainly not,' said Roger, who felt that he was hardly dealing sincerely with this most sincere of meal-men. Hitherto he had shuffled off every question that had been asked him about Felix, though he knew that Ruby had spent many hours with her fashionable lover. 'Mrs Pipkin won't let him come there.'
'If I was to give her a ge'own now,--or a blue cloak;--them lodging-house women is mostly hard put to it;--or a chest of drawers like, for her best bedroom, wouldn't that make her more o' my side, squoire?'