Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/387

XXII] "So she says 'Just tak' me fur your Minnie!' she says. 'Didna Minnie mak' your tea fur you?' says she. 'Ay,' says I. An' she mak's the tea. 'An' didna Minnie light your pipe?' says she. *Ay,' says I. An' she lights the pipe for me. 'An' didna Minnie set out your tea in t' porch?' An' I says 'My dear,' I says, 'I'm thinking you're Minnie hersen!' An' she cries a bit. We both on us cries a bit."

Again I kept silence for a while.

"An' while I smokes my pipe, she sits an' talks to meas loving an' as pleasant! I'll be bound I thowt it were Minnie come again! An' when she gets up to go, I says 'Winnot ye shak' hands wi' me?' says I. An' she says 'Na,' she says: 'a cannot shak' hands wi' thee!' she says."

"I'm sorry she said that," I put In, thinking it was the only instance I had ever known of pride of rank showing Itself in Lady Muriel.

"Bless you. It werena pride!" said the old man, reading my thoughts. "She says 'Your Minnie never shook hands wi' you!' she says. 'An' I'm your Minnie now,' she says.