Page:While the Billy Boils, 1913.djvu/65



girl,' said Mitchell, continuing a yarn to his mate, 'was about the ugliest girl I ever saw, except one, and I'll tell you about her directly. The old man had a carpenter's shop fixed up in a shed at the back of his house, and he used to work there pretty often, and sometimes I'd come over and yarn with him. One day I was sitting on the end of the bench, and the old man was working away, and Mary was standing there too, all three of us yarning―she mostly came poking round where I was if I happened to be on the premises―or at least I thought so―and we got yarning about getting married, and the old cove said that he'd get married again if the old woman died.

'"You get married again!' said Mary. "Why, father, you wouldn't get anyone to marry you―who'd have you?"

'"Well," he said, "I bet I'll get someone sooner than you, anyway. You don't seem to be able to get anyone, and it's pretty near time you thought of settlin' down and gettin' married. I wish someone would have you."

'He hit her pretty hard there, but it served her 45