Owen Oliver

“ Made 'im rare wild, anyhow. 'E said as 'e'd knock 'is 'ead off for tuppence; an' no lords wasn't never to be trusted—wot I knew, of course, an' ev'rybody does."
Jane knows all about lords—in novelettes.
"What are you going to do now?" I inquired.
"That's wot I was goin' to arsk you, seem' as you're a sharp vm, if you ain't no age." I shook my head. "Suppose as you was in my place?"
"I should not have told him such things."
I do not mean ever to fall in love; but, if I did, I should want him to like me just as I was, and not because I was something else that I wasn't. ”

“ An' bound to go an' contradic' myself some time or other. I said as I was companion to a lady, wot treated me like one of the fambly; an' 'ad expectations from my uncle—wot I 'adn't never none; an' as I could play the planner beautiful, an' sing. Some of them songs of yours an' the master's I tole 'im, like 'Jerusalem, wot Slayest the Profits,' an' '’Oner 'er 'Arms.' They're classy ones, ain't they?"
"Ye-es," I agreed; "I think they are." I am afraid they are not Jane's class! ”

“ She dropped the broom with a bang. "It ain't never no good askin' people for advice," she grumbled. "They always tell you wot you know; an' ain't goin' to do; an' they wouldn't neither. My aunt sez, wot you've 'eard me speak of—"
"I must go and dust the bedrooms," I said, hastily. I think Jane has told me all that her aunt has ever said; and she cannot work when she is talking.
Jane did not mention the gentleman again till she came in next evening. ”

“ She walked over to the dresser, and hung up some cups.
"I ain't good enough for 'im," she said, "an' that's gospel truth. 'E's a perfick gen'l'man, that's wot 'e is. An' as for eddication! Why, 'e can write a letter as easy as kiss my 'and!"
"Does he kiss your hand often?"
"I'd like to ketch 'im!"
"I thought when people were—were 'paying attentions'——"
Jane laughed, scornfully. "'Ands wasn't made for kissin'," she said. I do not think Jane's were!
"No-o. What is he like?"
She started cleaning the fender. "There ain't nothink the matter with 'is looks." ”

“ Father says that tact is another name for holding one's tongue.
"It ain't nothink to 'is manners," she assured me. "You should 'ear 'im say 'Good evenin', Miss De Vere,' when I—" She stopped suddenly, and turned so very red that I knew she was blushing.
"Miss De Vere!" I looked at her. "Oh, Jane!"
"'Ow could I tell 'im a name like 'Arris?"
"You'll have to tell him sooner or later."
"There's lots of things I'll 'ave to tell 'im sooner or later. That's wot's on my mind." She wiped her eyes.
"You haven't been passing yourself off for somebody else?" She nodded. "It isn't right." ”

“ People don't always do wot's best for theirselves. I'm goin' to do wot's best for 'im. I ain't good enough for 'im. Miss Molly; an' I ain't goin' to give 'im no chance of makin' a fool of 'isself , as 'e'd be sorry for afterward. Only, I don't want 'im to think too 'ard of me. If somebody wotdd say a word for me—somebody wot 'ad the gift of persuadin' people! ”

“ I sat down beside her, and put my arm around her.
"Poor old Jane!" I whispered.
"I can't go on like this any longer," she told me. "I can't, Miss Molly. I don't mean to see 'im any more. Lies is good enough for some people; but there's some as you can't bear tellin' 'em to. An' one thing leads to another, an', when you've begun, you 'ave to go on with it. ”