"'At a confirmation!' said I, and I whistled. 'I thowt confirmation was ower.'
"'Ah! I dunnow sure; but that's what shoo said.'
"'Is owd Greenwood's son, Jim, going to confirmation class too?'
"'I cannot tell,' shoo said.
"'No more can I,' said I; 'but I'd like to know?'
"'So should I,' said she.
"'Win't thee look out o' chamber window and see if there's a leet i' t' school?' said I. So my owd woman went upstairs and looked, and when shoo came doun, 'No, there ain't,' said she.
"'I thowt not,' said I.
"Well, we sat by t' fire some while, and then my owd lass went into back kitchen to get a bit o' supper ready. Shoo hadn't been there long afore shoo come back and said, 'James, lad!'
"'Ah!' says I; 'what's up?'
"'Why, this,' says she; 'there's summun i' t' back yard.'
"'How dost a' know?' says I.
"Says she, 'I heard 'em taukin'; and there's a lanthorn there.'
"'There's impidence!' says I. 'Who is they?'
"'I think Rachel Anne is one,' says Phœbe.
"'And Jim Greenwood is t' other,' says I; 'and I'm glad on't.'
"'Why?' says Phœbe.
"'Lass,' says I, 'I'll pay yond chap out, I will. I'll go out by t' front door, and I'll come on him, and I'll let him know what I think of him, coming arter our Rachel Anne. And when I've gotten howd on him, I'll hollow. Then do thou run out o' t' back door, and I'll howd him tight, and thou can poise him behind as much as thou like. Since we've been man and wife these fourteen year,' says I,
