Page:World Fiction 1922–1923.djvu/585

 I reached for my cap without even thinking, and she at once called out with a pleasant smile “God’s greetings to you, neighbor! Won’t you come in and have a glass of ale?” Without thinking I entered the inn and—and—”

“Well, and what are you coming to me for? Do you expect me to write up your marriage agreement?”

“Oh, I’ll come here with my intended bride some day to settle all those matters. But today I have something different on my heart.”

“Well, then—what is it?”

“We’ve been talking over certain things relating to our future combined property. Her land—you know—borders on the other side with the property of the cottager, Mares. That fellow is as slick as an eel—you know—and he has a bed of poppies extending into her land and you know—he is wearing a path right over the field—”

The face of his legal adviser broadened.

“Slower—old man,” he said. “We’ll have to write it down in regular order. Just wait, we’ll sharpen up a new pencil for that rascal, Mares. There! Well, then, here stands—stood—the apple tree and here—”