Page:The Wonderful Visit.djvu/128

116 answered the man with the grindstone, evidently much annoyed; and then, in a tone of growing impatience, he called down the road once more: "Carm on!"

"Silver wedding!" said the Angel. "What is a silver wedding?"

"Jest 'is rot," said the man on the barrow. "But 'e's always 'avin's some 'scuse like that. Fair sickenin' it is. Lars week it wus 'is bloomin' birthday, and then 'e adn't 'ardly got sober orf a comlimentary drunk to my noo barrer. (Carm on, you fool.)"

"But I don't understand," said the Angel. "Why does he sway about so? Why does he keep on trying to pick up his hat like that—and missing it?"

"Why!" said the tinker. "Well this is a blasted innocent country! Why! Because 'e's blind! Wot else? (Carm on—Dam yer.) Because 'e's just as full as 'e can 'old. That's why!"

The Angel noticing the tone of the second tinker's voice, judged it wiser not to question him further. But he stood by the grindstone and continued to watch the mysterious evolutions on the bridge.